CARLSBAD: A man suspected of using a fake gun to rob a bank yesterday was arrested shortly afterward while heading toward Interstate 5, police said.
The robbery occurred about 9:20 a.m. at U.S. Bank on Carlsbad Village Drive.
Carlsbad police Officer Gary Marshall, responding to a 911 call from the bank, saw a man matching the description of the robber driving a green Lexus east on Carlsbad Village Drive and onto the southbound I-5 on-ramp. The driver was pulled over on the on-ramp, and officers saw money on the floor of the car by the front passenger seat, Lt. Jay Eppel said.
Murrel Vailes, 30, was identified as the robber by two witnesses and was arrested and booked into federal jail in downtown San Diego.
In an alley near the bank, officers found a replica handgun and a blue shirt that matched the description of one worn by the robber.
An arrest warrant had been issued for Vailes stemming from a July 15 robbery at Mission Federal Credit Union in Chula Vista.
–S.S.
Dye pack prompts robber to drop some of his cash
SAN DIEGO: A Kearny Mesa bank robber dropped some of the loot on a sidewalk yesterday when a dye pack hidden in the money exploded, San Diego police said.
The robber, a black man about 30, 5 feet 6 inches tall and thin, used a note to demand cash at a Bank of America inside an Albertsons on Balboa Avenue near Convoy Street. A teller gave him some money and the dye pack about 6 p.m.
Officers searched for a red-spattered robber in a gray short-sleeved shirt and blue ballcap with red lettering, but didn't find him. They did find bits of the exploded pack and some cash on Armour Street a few blocks away.
–P.R.
Man who appeared to be planning theft arrested
CHULA VISTA: A 28-year-old man was arrested last night inside a recycling yard, where he was believed to have been stacking copper wiring to steal, police said. A employee at a neighboring business called police about 7:40 p.m. to report seeing a man hop a fence into Mike's Recycling on Main Street, Chula Vista police Sgt. John McAvenia said.
Officers surrounded the yard and Officer Joel Monreal and his canine partner, Lucas, began searching inside. The dog started barking at some bales of crushed aluminum cans and the intruder stepped out and surrendered, McAvenia said.
Police found about 30 pounds of copper wiring piled up near the fence.
–P.R.
Man, 48, stabbed during robbery attempt; one held
SAN DIEGO: A 48-year-old man who was walking in City Heights was stabbed during an attempted robbery just before midnight Sunday, police said.
The victim was walking south on Altadena Avenue, near El Cajon Boulevard, when he was confronted by two men. The pair demanded money from the victim and grabbed his pockets when the victim said he didn't have any money, police said.
A fight ensued, and the taller of the robbers punched the victim in the face and knocked out one of his teeth, police said. The victim tried to run, but the other man stabbed him five times in the back and leg, police said.
The victim was taken to a hospital and is expected to survive.
Police later detained a man who was identified by the victim as one of the attackers, police said. The 21-year-old man was booked into jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and of being under the influence of drugs.
–A.M.
Man getting into his van is stabbed by another
SAN YSIDRO: A 44-year-old man who was getting into his van in San Ysidro was stabbed Sunday afternoon for unknown reasons, San Diego police said yesterday.
The victim was on Seaward Avenue, near Cypress Drive, about 1:30 p.m. when the attacker approached and stabbed him in the left elbow and right shoulder.
The attacker was last seen running into an apartment complex at the end of Cottonwood Street.
The assailant is described as a light-skinned Latino, about 18 years old, about 5 feet 6 inches tall, with short hair, a thin build and weighing about 150 pounds, police said. He was wearing a white T-shirt and yellow shorts.
The victim's injuries were not considered life-threatening.
–A.M.
Woman briefly kidnapped during robbery at home
SOUTH BAY: Two men tried to rob a woman in her Southcrest house yesterday and she was briefly kidnapped before being allowed to return home, San Diego police said.
The woman was at her Daysailor Court home when two men walked in through the garage and demanded money. The woman's husband came home and interrupted the robbery, Sgt. Bob Dare said.
The couple's 7-year-old son called police about 4 p.m. to report his father fighting a man in the street. The man drove off in a car parked down the street. The second robber forced the wife to drive him away in her white Lincoln sport utility vehicle.
The woman returned alone in the SUV about 45 minutes later, crying and visibly shaken. She told officers the man had gotten out of the SUV at some point and left on foot, Dare said.
One robber was described as black, in his 30s, 6 feet 2 inches tall, of average build, wearing dark clothes and gloves. The other man was Latino, of medium build, wearing dark clothes and a Chargers hat with lightning bolts on the sides.
–P.R.
Marine who was killed in motorcycle crash is ID'd
NORTH COUNTY: A 21-year-old Marine killed Saturday afternoon in a motorcycle crash on state Route 76 in Pala was identified yesterday as Lance Cpl. Christopher G. Carrasquillo, a Marine spokeswoman said. She said she did not know his hometown.
Carrasquillo was based at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station. He was riding his motorcycle on Palomar Mountain with friends when he lost control while trying to pass slower vehicles. His motorcycle went off the road and struck a tree, the county Medical Examiner's Office said.
–S.S.
Bicyclist hit, killed by SUV was Fallbrook man
VISTA: A Fallbrook man killed while riding a bike Sunday in Vista has been identified as 46-year-old Juan Tomas-Antonio.
He was hit about 6:30 p.m. by a Honda Pilot on East Vista Way near Taylor Street, a spokesman for the Medical Examiner's Office said yesterday.
Officials said the driver was approaching the intersection when she saw a bicyclist enter without stopping at a stop sign. She was not able to stop her vehicle in time and struck the man, throwing him from his bike.
–A.M.
Driver killed in crash on Interstate 5 identified
NORTH COUNTY: A 68-year-old San Clemente man died when his vehicle was rear-ended Sunday and it went off a freeway, officials said.
The Medical Examiner's Office identified the victim as Vaughn Leslie Powell. He was driving north on Interstate 5 near a rest area just north of the Harbor Drive exit when his vehicle was struck at 4:50 p.m., authorities said.
Officials said several vehicles were involved in the wreck and at least one vehicle overturned. The Medical Examiner's Office said Powell died at the site of the crash.
–A.M.
Staff writers Susan Shroder, Pauline Repard and Angelica Martinez contributed to this report.
