On Thursday, August 12th, 2021, at 12:08 pm, the Turlock Police Department was dispatched to a reported shoplifting that had just occurred at a business in the 1800 block of Countryside Dr, Turlock.

When officers arrived on scene, the suspect, later identified as Jesse Ryan Folks, 46, of Modesto, had already left. Officers reviewed surveillance camera footage and were able to positively identify Folks as their suspect. Officers also determined that it was not a shoplifting that occurred, but rather a robbery, as Folks had brandished a large hunting style knife at employees who confronted him about the shoplifting.

About half an hour later, the Turlock Police Department was dispatched to a reported residential burglary in progress in the 1700 block of Provo St, Turlock. The reporting party provided a description of the suspect, which matched the description of Folks and what he was wearing during the previous robbery. By the time officers made it there, Folks was already gone.

Officers began investigating Folks’ background and discovered that someone he knew resided nearby in the 1600 block of Logan Ln, Turlock. Officers were able to confirm that Folks was at that person’s residence and attempted to make contact with him, however, he refused to cooperate with officers and locked himself in a bedroom of the residence.

Members of the department’s Hostage Negotiation Team responded to the scene and began speaking to Folks over the phone, eventually convincing him to come to the doorway of the home. When Folks came to the doorway, officers attempted to make contact with him, however, he resisted and ran back into the residence. An officer deployed his TASER electronic control device on Folks which subdued him and allowed officers to safely take him into custody.

Folks was arrested and booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center on charges of robbery, prohibited person in possession of ammunition, resisting a peace officer, trespassing, and brandishing a weapon.