San Diego
A man who police suspect is responsible for a string of bicycle thefts around San Diego City College was arrested Monday in an apartment closet.
Joseph Vasquez, who police say has spent the last few weeks forcing San Diego City College students and others to give him bicycles and other belongings by brandishing a menacing-looking pellet gun, was chased to a residence in the 3000 block of Clay Avenue in Logan Heights where he was arrested, according to San Diego police spokesman Bill Robinson.
“There were two or three cases of armed robbery by a man matching the suspect’s description,” Robinson said.
A police officer saw Vasquez’s gold Cadillac, which they say has been seen leaving robbery scenes, eastbound on Clay. Police said they found a pellet gun, which looks almost identical to a .357-caliber handgun, under the car’s seat.
Sgt. Jack Lilly saw two men run from the car into the residence, so he ordered the men to come out, Robinson said. Vasquez’s brother, Richard, came out, but Joseph Vasquez remained inside, where police found him hiding in a closet.
Robinson said Joseph Vasquez was a parolee being sought by his parole board.
Joseph Vasquez, who Robinson said is about 30, was being held Monday at County Jail.
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