Suspect in Robbery Arrested After Chase

An 18-year-old man sought in an armed robbery led police on a chase through alleyways and over fences before being captured Thursday inside a house in east Santa Paula, authorities said.

Just before 1 p.m., Jesus J. Garcia walked in front of a Ventura County Sheriff’s Department patrol car, in which deputies were looking at a picture of the robbery suspect, said Sgt. Fred Bustillos.

Deputies Robert Berger and Jeff Wiggens, on their way to patrol an unincorporated area, chased him to a house in the 600 block of North Oak Street where Garcia knew the homeowners, authorities said.

Garcia was booked on suspicion of evading arrest and armed robbery. He had been wanted in Sunday’s holdup of Main Street Chevron at 566 W. Main St., said Santa Paula Police Cmdr. Mark Hanson.

The gas station was robbed at 9:32 p.m. by a man carrying a 9-millimeter semiautomatic pistol, Hanson said. The cashier handed over a small amount of cash in the register, less than $100, Hanson said. The robber then fled on foot.