‘Most Wanted’ website netting quick results

A new effort to take Santa Rosa’s most wanted criminals off the streets is being termed an “immediate success” by police.

After being launched just last week, police say two men listed on its new Santa Rosa’s Most Wanted Offenders Program have already been arrested.

The program  — actually more of a compilation of modern-day wanted posters with photos and descriptions of 10 wanted suspects — was launched on May 7.

Six days after the site went live one of the wanted men, 31-year-old Clark Grimwood, was spotted inside a Best Buy store in Santa Rosa by a store employee who recognized him from the website and called police.

When officers arrived Grimwood — described as “armed and dangerous” — tried to run but was caught and taken into custody after a brief struggle.

Grimwood was wanted on a warrant alleging probation violations after auto theft, assault and drug convictions.  Now he’s being held without bail in Sonoma County Jail.

Detective Robert Reynolds, with the Santa Rosa police gang unit, told SFBay he introduced the idea to the department after his experience with a similar program in Vallejo:

“We’re very excited that we able to catch someone on the sixth day.”

The store employee who called police is not being identified, but Reynolds says that person will be receiving a reward of a yet to be determined amount.

Also in custody is another wanted suspect on the list.

The day after the most wanted site was launched, authorities were tipped off that a suspected gang member they’ve been looking for was hiding in a home in rural Boyes Hot Springs, about 20 miles outside of Santa Rosa.

The suspect — 29-year-old Valentino Kumar — was wanted on a warrant alleging he had violated terms of his probation on drug charges.

Kumar tried to run from the deputies sent to arrest him but was unable to escape.

The information that led to Kumar’s arrest was not a tip that resulted from the most wanted program. But with Kumar and Grimwood in custody and off the list, two alleged child molesters have been added.

Santa Rosa police have updated their electronic wanted poster to include Grant Lavelle Hudson III,  a 67-year-old convicted sex offender with warrants out for his arrest alleging child molestation and for failing to register as a sex offender.

Also added to the list is Martin Santos Salcedo Rodriguez. The 43-year-old Rodriguez is wanted on ten separate felony warrants for allegedly molesting children.