A fugitive parolee wanted in connection with a March 6 home invasion robbery in Redlands was tracked down in Yucaipa Tuesday afternoon by members of the Redlands Police Department’s Multiple Enforcement Team and ultimately connected to another home invasion robbery, residential burglary, attempted carjacking, two armed robberies and a vehicle pursuit.

James Jesse Sult, 25, was taken into custody at a home in the 12000 block of 18th Street in Yucaipa at about 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 9. He was found in possession of a loaded firearm, heroin, methamphetamine and keys to a nearby stolen vehicle that had been taken during a residential burglary in Redlands last week.

In addition to the burglary in the 1500 block of Margit Street and residential robbery in the 900 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, both on March 6, Sult was linked to the Feb. 21 home invasion robbery in the 500 block of Lantern Crest, an attempted carjacking at Lugonia Avenue and Wabash Avenue March 2, two armed robberies of a Circle K and Valero gas station in Mentone, and a vehicle pursuit with Sheriff’s deputies in the stolen car.

MET officers initially identified Sult as a suspect in the March 6 residential robbery in the 900 block of East Pennsylvania Avenue. The robber entered an open garage door at about 1 a.m. and held up four people in the garage at gunpoint, leaving with cash. MET officers who had contacted Sult in the neighborhood earlier in the evening were able to match his description to the victims’ depiction of the robber.

On Sunday, Feb. 21, two residents in the 500 block of Lantern Crest Drive were held up at gunpoint by a man who entered the home through an unlocked rear door. The robber took cash and prescription medications before shutting the residents in a closet and fleeing the residence.

On March 2, a man was held up at gunpoint at Wabash and Lugonia by a suspect who attempted to steal the victim’s car. The would-be carjacker left when he was unable to start the vehicle.

Sult was arrested for residential robbery, residential burglary, attempted carjacking and parole violation. He was transported to the Central Detention Center in San Bernardino.

Redlands Police Chief Jim Bueermann praised the determined police work of MET officers who identified Sult as the suspect, tracked him down and ultimately connected him to a rash of potentially violent crime over the two-week span.

“This was good, basic heads-up police work,” said Bueermann. “Neighborhood contacts lead to solid intelligence; persistent investigation tracks down the fugitive suspect and good follow-up ties the bad guy to a number of additional crimes not just in our City but in the county as well.”

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Redlands Police Dispatch at (909) 798-7681. Anonymous tips can be provided by texting 274637 using the keyword “REDTIP.”