Photo: Fresno Police Department / copyright
Fresno authorities captured a robbery suspect who had been hiding inside a Save Mart for nearly two days after falling through from the roof of the store.
After a chase, a confrontation of 20 hours and a day waiting, the police finally arrested the thief identified as Pheng Vang, from 28 years after he fell from the roof of the commercial establishment on Nees Avenue and First Street.
Officers said that after falling, Vang landed in an aisle of the store and attempted to flee to a nearby residential complex.
Guess who feels through the Savemart ceiling today? While we may have pulled back our visible SWAT operation, we left undercover detectives in place. When suspect Pheng Vang began to run, our MAGEC detectives and Northeast patrol officers were quick to apprehend him. pic.twitter.com/yodRDX4EBG
— Fresno Police (@FresnoPolice) May 20,
Despite the fact that the authorities had apparently withdrawn from the area on Friday, the police undercover still waiting at the site and arrested him when he left the Save Mart.
For his part, the police chief, Paco Balderrama, posted on his Twitter account an image of the suspect, who seemed to be covered of dust and plaster from the ceiling.
Authorities said Vang was wanted for his connection to a Caruthers robbery and is on parole after serving a sentence for a previous robbery.
On Thursday night, Fresno County officers spotted him at the Riber Park shopping center near Nees and Blackstone Avenues and attempted to arrest him. Afterward, he led police on a manhunt for the Save Mart and nearby stores were evacuated and classes were canceled at a nearby educational facility.
On Friday, Fresno SWAT authorities entered the store with their K9s to search the building and businesses there, but did not they found it However, they found evidence that he was inside. Agents later disclosed that he had escaped and that the Save Mart store would reopen as soon as possible.
But, authorities said they still had some undercover agents and marked units near the area as a precautionary measure.
Finally, 24 Hours after the grocery store and mall were secure, Vang fell into the store. The moment he wanted to escape he was arrested.
The man will face charges of felony evasion and probation violation, among other charges. They also reported that the weapon was not found, and that it is believed that he was not armed.
“A search of the entire building will be conducted. The building is open at this time for customers, but there are detectives and officers inside searching the building,” said Fresno Police Lt. Mark Hudson.
Two other suspects were seen with Vang in River Park last Thursday and were captured, but were released after it was determined they were not involved in the residential burglary in which the criminal is suspected.
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