Burglary suspects arrested by sheriff’s deputies are believed to be responsible for a rash of thefts in Escalon, Ripon and the outlying county areas, according to police.

The two suspects also are awaiting trial on 17 felony burglaries between them.

Jailed on a commercial burglary charges were Andrew Luis Estrada, 26, and Donald Leon Smith, 43. They are currently being held in the San Joaquin County Jail.

Escalon Police Chief James Shaw said he didn’t believe either suspect had been responsible for the recent shooting of one of his officers during an attempted burglary at the rear of a pharmacy in the predawn hours. Both men were called up for lineup in that case, he said.

Estrada is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail. In addition to the current charge he had an outstanding $20,000 warrant for possession of controlled substance paraphernalia, possession of a concealed dagger, terrorist threats and vandalism.

Estrada also had six felony burglary cases pending in the court system.

Smith is being held in lieu of $470,000 bail. In addition to the current burglary charge he is under arrest for assault with a vehicle on a police officer. He reportedly rammed two patrol cars in an effort to flee the officers.

The sheriff’s department listed his charges to include 11 felony burglary cases pending in the courts.

Smith has another case pending that charges him with three additional felony counts for possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for sale and for transportation and selling of a controlled substance.

Escalon Sgt. Milton Medeiros said a break in the burglary cases came when an investigator with the sheriff’s department recognized one of the suspects in a recent burglary in the Stockton area. Medeiros pointed out the method of operation was similar to recent burglaries in Escalon and Ripon.

He added that the primary suspect was established to be the same individual seen in both the Escalon and Ripon surveillance footage. The second suspect, Andrew Estrada, had reportedly been arrested on unrelated charges on the prior day.

Smith was scheduled to appear in the Stockton Courthouse of the San Joaquin County Superior Court today at 8:25 a.m. No court date had been set for Estrada.