BELMONT – On Monday, October 19, 2026, at approximately 12:11 a.m., Belmont Police Officer David Pimentel was dispatched to 16 Walnut Street following a report of a breaking and entering in progress.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narrative of Officer David Pimentel and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
Belmont Police Officer Steven Tavarez also responded to the scene.
“The reporting party called 911 and stated that he had caught someone breaking into his garage before the call disconnected,” Officer Pimentel said. “Just prior to units’ arrival, the 911 call button had been activated at fire headquarters (299 Trapelo Road), which is across the street from 16 Walnut Street.”
At fire headquarters, Officer Pimentel said he was waved down by the reporting party and Jonathan Quintanilla, who he said was well known to police due to numerous past break-ins and attempted break-ins.
According to police, Jonathan J. Quintanilla, 26, is a resident of Waltham, MA.
The reporting party told Officer Pimentel that he caught Quintanilla in his garage looking in a cabinet and rummaging through his personal belongings.
“[The reporting party] who is partially deaf, explained that at about 12:05 a.m., he heard a loud noise in his garage,” Officer Pimentel said. “He went to investigate and found Quintanilla rummaging through items and, when confronted, Quintanilla apologized before attempting to leave.”
The reporting party said he called 911 while following Quintanilla on foot to fire headquarters.
“[The reporting party] stated that he did not believe anything had been stolen,” Officer Pimentel said. “He also corrected his address to 10 Walnut Street where the incident had occurred.”
Officer Pimentel said Quintanilla acknowledged being inside the reporting party’s garage but said he was “looking for his cousin.”
“He denied taking any items from the garage,” Officer Pimentel said. “A search of Quintanilla’s person unveiled personal items such as gloves and paperwork from his parole officer, as well as $43.14 in change.”
Officer Pimentel said Quintanilla denied breaking into any other locations or vehicles while repeatedly apologizing for breaking into the reporting party’s garage.
Officer Pimentel said that based on statements of both Quintanilla and Hicks, Quintanilla was placed under arrest.
Jonathan J. Quintanilla, 26, of Waltham, was charged with:
- Breaking & Entering Nighttime for Felony
“He was searched by me and placed in handcuffs by Officer [John] Connolly, who had arrived to assist,” Officer Pimentel said. “Quintanilla was mirandized by Officer Connolly while I sorted his property.”
Quintanilla was then placed in the prisoner compartment of a cruiser and transported to the Belmont Police Department where he was booked without incident.
Quintanilla was arraigned in Cambridge District Court on Oct. 19, 2026. Following his arraignment, Quintanilla was released on personal recognizance under the condition that he stay away from and not contact the victim. His next court date is scheduled for Nov. 18, 2026.
Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story took place in October, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to obtain the court documents. FOIAs are time-consuming.
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