On Wednesday, September 7th, shortly after 1 AM, deputies from the Vista Station responded to a report of a commercial burglary in progress in the 1300 Block of Specialty Drive in the city of Vista. The owner alerted the Sheriff’s Department of a man who had broken into the business and was stealing items. The owner kept Sheriff’s dispatchers updated on the actions of the burglar as he was being observed via surveillance cameras.
Seconds before deputies arrived, the burglar fled the area in a car, but was seen by deputies. The car failed to yield and a pursuit with deputies began.
During the pursuit, several of the stolen items fell out of the car and damaged the pursuing Sheriff’s cars. No deputies were injured. The burglar fled into the city of San Marcos where he abandoned the car near the intersection of Kensington Dr. and 9th street and ran away. With the help of a Sheriff’s K9 and aerial unit, ASTREA, the man was found hiding in the back of a truck. The man was identified as Jose Rivera, 32 yrs. old, and was arrested. Rivera was later booked into the Vista Detention Facility for Commercial Burglary, Evading a Peace Officer with Wanton Disregard for Public Safety, and Obstructing/Resisting a Peace Officer. The stolen property, estimated to be worth about $5,000, was collected and returned to the owner.
