3 Arrested After Pursuit, May Be Linked To Sunnyvale Armed Robbery
SUNNYVALE (CBS SF) – A report of a car burglary led to a pursuit for three suspects from Sunnyvale who were arrested early Thursday morning and may have also been involved in an armed robbery late Wednesday night, according to the city's Department of Public Safety.
Officers responded around 11:45 p.m. to a report of a robbery in the 200 block of North Mathilda Avenue just south of Central Expressway, where they learned two men went inside a victim's apartment, public safety officials said.
One of the suspects shot once at the victim and fled with a laptop, according to public safety officials.
The victim suffered a small laceration to an ear from the gunfire and was treated at the scene, public safety officials said.
Both suspects were described as Hispanic men between 25 and 30 years old. The armed suspect wore a black wool jacket while the other wore glasses, according to public safety officials.
While officers searched for the suspects with help from a San Jose police air unit, a dispatcher picked up a call reporting a car burglary in progress shortly after midnight in the 200 block of Del Norte Avenue, about a mile away from the robbery, public safety officials said.
The suspect description in the car burglary matched the one provided in the robbery, according to public safety officials.
The caller who reported the burglary said the suspects may be linked with a bronze Chevrolet Suburban with large wheels, public safety officials said.
Around 1:40 a.m., officers found a suburban that matched the vehicle description in the area of Ahwanee and Morse avenues just south of U.S. Highway 101, public safety officials.
Officers tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver fled and a pursuit ensued, according to public safety officials.
Officers followed the car with help from California Highway Patrol officers and a helicopter crew, public safety officials said.
The chase continued to East San Jose, where the vehicle stopped in the area of Dobern and Kammerer avenues near Mathson Middle School, according to public safety officials.
The suspect driver, later identified as 35-year-old Julio Garcia, ran away and hid until he was found by San Jose police a short time later, public safety officials said.
Two 24-year-old passengers, Martina Loya-Mendoza and Jesus Ayala, were also taken into custody, public safety officials said.
Detectives are looking into whether the robbery and burglary are connected, according to public safety officials.
Anyone with information on the cases is asked to call the Department of Public Safety at (408) 730-7100.
© Copyright 2016 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
