Bautista
An Indianapolis man has been charged for his role in stealing thousands of dollars of guns from a White River Township gun store last month.
Ivan Jovani Bautista, 18, is charged with burglary as a Level 5 felony, theft as a Level 5 felony, and unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle as a Level 6 felony.
Johnson County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a reported burglary at U.S. Defense Solutions, 5218 Mount Pleasant North Street, around 7:20 a.m. Dec. 21. The burglary had occurred several hours earlier, around 2 a.m., according to a probable cause affidavit.
Along with Bautista, a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old have also been arrested for participating in the burglary. Several of the weapons and items stolen have been recovered during the search of several homes in Marion County, said Duane Burgess, Johnson County Sheriff.
Three suspects were seen on security video breaking into the store and stealing about $81,000 worth of firearms, including pistols and rifles, along with ammunition and optics. They had on backpacks, dark clothing, gloves, “distinctive shoes and distinctive fuzzy masks” to conceal their identities, according to the affidavit.
Security video also provided deputies with a timeline of the robbery.
Two vehicles were seen on camera at 1:52 a.m. that morning. Three minutes later, glass was broken at the store but no one entered. One minute later vehicles are seen leaving the scene, according to the affidavit.
The cars returned a few minutes later, and the suspects entered the store. However, the suspects were spooked and left the store briefly. They then entered and left the store two more times before leaving. The entire incident lasted about 21 minutes, with the main robbery taking place in about 10 minutes, the affidavit shows.
As detectives began searching the area, they found additional footage of the vehicles leaving the area. At around 9:18 a.m. on Dec. 21, they found one of the vehicles — a blue 2013 Hyundai Sonata — in a nearby neighborhood.
On the street where the Sonata was found, deputies also found a balaclava mask. The car also turned out to be stolen, and the car’s owner had previously tracked it to a Subway on East 10th Street in Indianapolis, the affidavit says.
The owner of the Subway gave detectives access to security video, which showed an employee entering the stolen car. The employee was later connected to those involved in the burglary, according to the affidavit.
Two search warrants served by deputies at undisclosed locations found a gun stolen from U.S. Defense Solutions, burglary tools, a burglary kit, clothing and shoes from the burglary, ammunition, and stolen gun parts, along with electronics and phones connecting those involved in the burglary. Confessions were also obtained from two unidentified persons, the affidavit shows.
A third search warrant was served on Dec. 26 at Bautista’s home in Indianapolis. Deputies found a Banshee MKG pistol stolen from U.S. Defense Solutions, gun parts, ammunition and clothing and shoes from the burglary, along with electronics and phones connecting those involved in the burglary, according to the affidavit.
Bautista also reportedly confessed to the burglary in an interview with detectives. He rode in a vehicle to the gun store where he took a sledgehammer to two of its front windows, the affidavit shows.
He entered the gun store first and told detectives he exclaimed “Jackpot” when he entered one room with firearms. This was also seen on security video, the affidavit said.
Bautista also told investigators what items he wore during the burglary. Deputies later found a photo of him holding the stolen gun in his hands from about 10 minutes after the burglary, according to the affidavit.
A search of Bautista’s phone suggests that he was allegedly involved in a local gang that participates in crimes including vehicle theft, narcotics sales, theft of firearms, police chases, burglaries of businesses, drive-by shootings, automatic firearm conversion kits, arson and/or intimidation. His phone also had apps used to avoid police detection, the affidavit shows.
A summary of Bautista’s interview describes him as “flippant,” saying he was caught in numerous lies. He also appeared unremorseful for his actions, according to the affidavit.
The investigation into the burglary remains ongoing, and additional people could be charged. Throughout the investigation, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, or ATF, and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
