Johanna Santilien

Name:
Santilien, Johanna Michelle

Date of Booking:
11/5/2021

Reason(s) For Booking:
Entering Automobile or other Motor Vehicle with Intent to Commit Theft or Felony

Theft by Taking – F – Other, Uncategorized

Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the officer’s narrative report. We do not fix any spelling or grammatical errors. Any changes made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist.]

On 11/05/2021 at approximately 1245 hours, I responded code 1 to a theft report at the Winder Police Department. An investigation identified Johanna Santilen as the suspect of a family violence investigation. Probable cause supported charges for Theft by taking felony and Entering automobile in that Johanna entered the victim’s vehicle, a black 2017 Nissan Rogue bearing Georgia registration [REDACTED], and removed the victim’s firearm, a black Glock 45 semiautomatic pistol bearing serial number BSZX945, without legal authority.

Initial contact and observation

Upon arrival I met with [VICTIM #1] in Winder PD’s lobby. Code enforcement Officer Munoz CE10 met with us to translate as [VICTIM #1] does not speak English.

[VICTIM #1]’s statement

Code enforcement Officer Munoz translated [VICTIM #1]’s statement.

[VICTIM #1] said he and Johanna had recently divorced in August 2021. [VICTIM #1] told me he has been sleeping in his car at his job at 1290 Barrow Industrial Pkwy since the divorce.

[VICTIM #1] told me he was working around 1030 hours 11/05/2021 when he returned to his car for something. When he got to his car, he noticed his glove compartment was open and his Glock 45 9mm pistol was missing. [VICTIM #1] showed me the receipt for the gun that was purchased on September 18, 2021. [VICTIM #1] suspected Johanna took it because she has a spare key to his car. [VICTIM #1] told me the car is in his name and he is the primary owner of the vehicle.

[VICTIM #1] then told me he texted Johanna to ask if she took his gun. [VICTIM #1] said Johanna texted him back and said she had it, and if he wanted it back, he needed to come home.

I asked [VICTIM #1] if he was willing to cooperate with prosecution of Johanna. [VICTIM #1] told me he doesn’t want her to get into trouble, he just wants his gun back.

[VICTIM #1] was provided with a case number.

Johanna Santilen’s statement

Deputy Goldberg contacted Johanna on the phone. Deputy Goldberg asked Johanna if she had [VICTIM #1]’s firearm. Johanna said she did have his gun. Johanna was asked how she got the firearm. Johanna said took it from his vehicle because she was worried about him.

Deputy Goldberg explained to Johanna that she had no right to take [VICTIM #1]’s property. Johanna then asked if we could meet her at her house around 1500 hours to give us the gun. She told us she would call when she was on her way home so we could meet with her.

Johanna called Deputy Goldberg at approximately 1400 hours and advised she was on her way home and was willing to meet with us to turn over the firearm. We met with her at her residence at [1400 BLOCK] Cragston Dr and spoke with her. She told me the car was registered under both of their names, however after the divorce, she had it refinanced under his name only about one week ago.

Deputy Goldberg asked her how she came into possession of the firearm. She told us she knew he was sleeping in the vehicle at Price Industries and went there while he was working. She entered the vehicle with a spare key and removed the firearm from the glove compartment. Deputy Goldberg asked her why she removed the firearm. She stated, “To get his attention.”

Further investigation

Johanna advised the firearm was inside the house behind the front door. She provided permission to enter the home and retrieve the firearm. Deputy Goldberg located the firearm in a white plastic bag behind the front door where Johanna said it would be. The firearm inside the bag was a black Glock 45 semiautomatic 9mm pistol bearing serial number BSZX945. The firearm matched the receipt provided by [VICTIM #1]. Two boxes of 9mm ammunition containing a total of 151 rounds of ammunition were also located inside the white bag. Johanna told me she had also removed the ammunition from the vehicle and it belonged to [VICTIM #1].

Action taken

Johanna was then placed in handcuffs, checked for correct fit and double locked. I explained to Johanna she was under arrest for stealing the firearm and entering the car with the intent to commit a theft. Johanna told me she understood.

Johanna’s children arrived on scene while we were speaking with her. She called a friend who responded to the scene and took responsibility for her children at her request.

Johanna was placed in the rear seat of my patrol vehicle and a seat belt was placed on her for her safety. Johanna was then transported to the Barrow County Detention Center and turned over to Detention staff without incident on warrants to be applied for.

The firearm and ammunition was lodged as evidence in the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office evidence room.

Summary of probable cause

Johanna did commit the offense of Theft by taking articles from motor vehicles (F). Johanna admitted to taking [VICTIM #1]’s firearm from [VICTIM #1]’s vehicle without having any right to the vehicle or the firearm.

Johanna did commit the offense of Entering Auto. Johanna admitted to entering [VICTIM #1]’s vehicle with the intent of removing the firearm.