A middle-of-the-night garage burglary led to a multi-agency manhunt across Upper Bucks early Tuesday morning, ending with the arrest of two men from Reading and the recovery of two stolen dirt bikes.
According to Hilltown Township Police, the incident began around 2:30 a.m. on July 8, when a homeowner on Callowhill Road received a phone alert indicating an interior garage camera had been disconnected. When the homeowner went to investigate, he discovered the garage door ajar and three dirt bikes missing — two gas-powered and one electric, police said.
Officers arrived at the scene within minutes and, while canvassing the area, heard engines starting nearby. A passerby informed police they had seen dirt bikes fleeing toward Route 113 and Route 313, police said.
Around 2:50 a.m., a Pennridge Regional Police officer stationed near Route 313 and Fifth Street spotted two dirt bikes and a white Chrysler 200 approaching, police said.
When the officer attempted a traffic stop, the dirt bike riders fled in different directions, police said. One of the bikes was recovered abandoned shortly after.
The driver of the Chrysler, identified as Yalexander Yamil Muniz, 22, was taken into custody. Police said the stolen electric dirt bike was visible hanging out of the vehicle’s trunk.
Around 4:30 a.m., a Perkasie Borough officer came across a stopped Infiniti sedan with hazard lights flashing along Ridge Road near Schoolhouse Lane.
The vehicle’s occupants, also from Reading, had no apparent reason for being in the area, police said.
After interviews by Hilltown officers and a detective, the front seat passenger was identified as Joel Gerardo Santiago-Lopez, 22, who authorities said had fled earlier after ditching a stolen dirt bike. Santiago-Lopez was also taken into custody.
Yalexander Yamil Muniz, 22, of Reading (Credit: Hilltown Police)
Joel Gerardo Santiago-Lopez, 22, of Reading (Credit: Hilltown Police)Both men were arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Regina Armitage. Bail for each was set at 10% of $75,000, and both were remanded to Bucks County Correctional Facility.
Muniz is charged with felony counts of burglary, theft, and receiving stolen property, and misdemeanor criminal mischief, according to court documents.
Santiago-Lopez is charged with felony counts of burglary, theft, receiving stolen property, and criminal trespassing, according to court records.
The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to identify a third suspect and locate the final stolen dirt bike.
Hilltown Township Police thanked Pennridge Regional, Perkasie Borough, Richland Township, Quakertown Borough, New Britain Township, Solebury Township Police, and Pennsylvania State Police for their assistance in the coordinated response.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
