SAN CLEMENTE : 3 Arrested After Burglary, Chase

Two men and a juvenile who allegedly stole clothes from a downtown surf shop, then cut the owner with a knife, were arrested with a citizen’s help after a wild chase through city streets and on a freeway Tuesday.

Manuel Moran, 18, of Vista and Christopher Saxton of Oceanside were booked into Orange County Jail on suspicion of commercial burglary, felony evasion of arrest, felony hit-and-run driving and assault with a deadly weapon.

The juvenile, a 17-year-old male from San Diego, was taken to Orange County Juvenile Hall on similar charges.

The three reportedly walked into Rocky’s Surf and Sports Shop at Avenida del Mar and El Camino Real about 3:30 p.m., grabbed several items of clothing and fled, Sheriff’s Lt. Dan Martini said.

Shop owner Rocky Sabo, 39, chased them until Moran turned around and slashed at him, cutting Sabo’s thumb, according to Martini.

According to investigators, Moran and the others fled in a 1985 Toyota pickup truck and were seen speeding on El Camino Real by a patrolling sheriff’s deputy.

Under pursuit, the Toyota crashed into a parked pickup truck. The owner, William Bowers, 22, was standing nearby and jumped into the bed of the getaway vehicle as it headed for Interstate 5, according to authorities.

The Rancho Santa Margarita resident began pounding on the back window, eventually smashing the glass, and grabbed at the young men inside.

Moran pulled onto the shoulder of the freeway between Cristianitos and Basilone roads and ran into the underbrush, where he was caught by a deputy.

When driving to the side of the road, Moran jammed the passenger side of the truck against a guardrail. After the vehicle stopped, Bowers jumped to the driver’s door and kept the other two suspects from fleeing.

Bowers was uninjured; Sabo’s injury was treated at the scene by paramedics.