Suspect in Robbery Escapes in Detective’s Car

A parolee arrested Monday on suspicion of burglarizing a Lemon Grove home escaped minutes later in a detective’s car while the officer talked to a witness, the detective said.

Sheriff’s Detective Lee Yoder said that, out of consideration for the suspect in the 95-degree heat, he left the air conditioning on--and the engine running--while he talked to a witness just outside the car. The unmarked Dodge Diplomat does not have a cage between the front and back seats.

Evan Fontes, 33, got out of his handcuffs, hopped into the front seat and fled in the car about 10:45 a.m., Yoder said.

“I was trying to be nice,” Yoder said.

Fontes, described as 5 feet 11 inches, 170 pounds, with a mustache and collar-length blond hair, is suspected of burglarizing a house about 10:30 a.m. in the 1600 block of Watwood Road in Lemon Grove. A neighbor interrupted the burglar, who fled on foot, and a bystander ran after him.

The bystander flagged down Yoder and said he had seen the burglar at the trolley tracks near the 7000 block of Imperial Avenue, about a mile from the home that had been burglarized. Fontes did not resist arrest, Yoder said.

Fontes had a screwdriver, but it was not immediately clear if he had any items from the house, Yoder said.

A patrol deputy who responded to the burglary call took the neighbor to the arrest scene to identify the suspect. But the neighbor never got the chance because, while he was talking to Yoder, the suspect got away.

Yoder’s car was recovered in the 2600 block of Sherie Lane, about 2 miles from where it had been stolen. Fontes took only the keys and left Yoder’s equipment and other belongings untouched, he said.

Yoder said Fontes’ parole officer said he had not heard from Fontes for some time, and that he was considered a parolee at large. Fontes was on parole from a burglary conviction. He is also being sought in connection with three other burglaries in San Diego, Yoder said.