Around 2:00 am on Tuesday, a Fresno County Sheriff's deputy was on patrol between Kingsburg and Parlier.
He noticed a car pulling out of a nectarine orchard near the intersection of Zediker and Rose Avenues. The deputy made a traffic stop on the car and contacted the driver, 40 year old Zulema Garcia Cruz of Reedley. She was arrested for having outstanding warrants for drug possession and petty theft.
The deputy conducted a further search of the orchard and found a pickup truck with nobody inside. However, the bed of the truck was full of nectarines, which had been picked off of nearby trees. The deputy checked the trunk of Zulema's car and found a crate of nectarines. She was also in possession of a meth pipe.
The deputy booked Zulema Garcia Cruz into the Fresno County Jail on her warrants, as well as new charges related to grand theft of crops and possession of drug paraphernalia. Her bail is set at $65,000.
If you have additional information about this case, please report it by contacting the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office at 559-600-3111. You may also contact Valley Crime Stoppers at 559-498-7867 or www.valleycrimestoppers.org You will remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward. Reference case #26-6431.
