K9, Helicopter, Drone Used To Nab Suspects: Fremont Armed Robbery

FREMONT, CA — Two men were arrested Monday night following following an armed robbery at the Shell gas station in the 42000 block of Mission Boulevard. A wild police pursuit, and the use of two K9s, a helicopter and a drone were all employed to catch the suspects, one of whom was hiding in a yard.

Police booked 27-year-old Albert Balucan and 30-year-old Eduardo Garcia, both of Union City, into Santa Rita Jail.

The robbery was reported around 10:15 p.m. Fremont Police say the suspects entered the gas station convenience store and pointed a gun at an employee. They stole cash and drove off in an older red Dodge Caravan.

Police were already on the lookout for the Caravan because it was used during an armed robbery on Sunday at the Fast and Eazy Mart, in the 34000 block of Ardenwood Boulevard, as well as a series of thefts throughout the city.

An officer spotted the Caravan shortly after the armed robbery Monday night and began pursuing it on Stevenson Boulevard. The pursuit was terminated when the driver began making reckless moves, endangering other drivers.

The Caravan crashed at Stevenson and Fremont boulevards.

Police report, “The driver ran from the vehicle and was quickly apprehended by K9 Karo. The suspect in the passenger seat then entered the driver’s seat and fled from the area. An alert community member later reported the van being left at Glenview Dr. and Mattos Dr. with the driver fleeing into the neighborhood.”

Police officers set up a 2 block perimeter and flooded into the neighborhood searching for the suspect. In addition to Fremont Police Department officers, K9 and drone, a Union City Police Department K9, and a helicopter from the San Jose Police Department all joined the search.

“During the search, the SJPD helicopter located the 2nd suspect hiding in a yard on Mattos Dr.,” FPD said in a statement. “The air unit directed the search team to the location of the suspect where he was taken in to custody.”

Officers retraced the route taken by the Caravan and found a loaded gun and a BB gun that had been tossed from the vehicle during the pursuit.

Balucan and Garcia are being held on suspicion of armed robbery, reckless evading, hit and run, and probation violations. Detectives are working with other police departments to see if the pair may be responsible for more crimes. Anyone with information about the pair should contact Detective Jared Madsen at jmadsen@fremont.gov or 510-790-6900.