Manteca Police officer Ian Osborn had a church burglary suspect in handcuffs within 22 hours of a break-in at the Sequoia Heights Baptist Church that occurred at 6 a.m. Monday.

Jeremy James Anaya, 20, listed as a Manteca transient, was charged with burglary and possession of controlled substance paraphernalia and transported to the San Joaquin County Jail in French Camp.

Osborn recognized the suspect on a surveillance video as a former offender and spotted him on the street at 4:10 a.m. Tuesday in the 100 block of East Alameda Street, according to police public information officer Jason Hensley.

Hensley said the suspect was caught on the video tape at exactly 6 a.m. at the South Union Road church when he entered both the Worship Center and the church Day Care Center moving sound equipment around the sanctuary, possibly being spooked because none of the electronics were among the items taken.

The police public information officer credited his department’s community service officer Lisa Lewis with her professionalism in processing the crime scene leading to the identification of the suspect.  Senior officer and detective Brian Holland processed and enhanced the surveillance video footage putting the suspect’s photo out to all Manteca units.  

Anaya is being held in lieu of $53,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in the Manteca Branch of the San Joaquin County Superior Court today at 1:30 p.m.

 “There are some things that are still sacred, and the House of God is one,” Hensley said.