Late Night Crimes In Sunnyvale Bring Arrests

SUNNYVALE - Sunnyvale Police have arrested three suspects after a Wednesday night pursuit that ultmately involved two police helicopters, two police departments, and the California Highway Patrol.

Officers responded around 11:45 p.m. Wednesday to a report of a robbery in the 200 block of North Mathilda Avenue just south of Central Expressway. Officials from the Sunnyvale Department of Safety say two men had made their way into a victim’s apartment.

One of the suspects shot once at the victim and fled with a laptop, according officials. The victim suffered a small laceration to an ear from the gunfire and was treated at the scene.

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.

While officers searched for the suspects, with help from San Jose police Air Two, 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.

The suspect description in the car burglary matched the one provided in the robbery.

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 10. Officers tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver fled and a pursuit ensued.

Officers followed the car with help from California Highway Patrol officers and a helicopter crew.

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.

Two 24-year-old passengers, Martina Loya-Mendoza and Jesus Ayala, were also taken into custody.

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.

-Bay City News, images via Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety