A business deal in San Marcos turned into an armed robbery that ended with a pursuit and crash near a Walmart Friday night, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department confirmed.
Just before 8 p.m., deputies received a call of an armed robbery at Rock Springs and Nordahl roads.
The two robbery victims – a man and woman in their early 20s – said they had met a man in the area to recover a quad ATV. The victims said a mutual friend had hired the man to fix the recreational vehicle and they were set to meet with the man in order to pay him for the repairs.
The man – identified by officials as Emmanuel Andujo, 21 – was on foot when he met the pair. During their encounter, Andujo got into the victims’ car and told them to drive to the intersection of Spanish Oak Avenue and Brook Road, about six blocks away.
During the ride, Andujo allegedly brandished a handgun and told the victims to stop the car, according to officials.
Deputies said Andujo then fled with the victims’ car keys. The male victim was able to recover his keys and spotted Andujo getting into the passenger side of a parked vehicle.
The victim got back into his car and followed the suspect’s vehicle.
As the two cars approached the intersection at Nordahl Road, the victim tried to stop Andujo by hitting the car in which he was riding.
Deputies said the impact from the collision caused Andujo’s car to spin out and stall. Andujo and the driver of the suspect vehicle then fled the scene towards a nearby Walmart store.
Officials arrived at the scene, established a perimeter and began searching for the suspects. A sheriff’s department helicopter assisted in the search, as well as canines.
During the search, a San Marcos resident called 911 to report an unknown man on her porch.
When deputies arrived at the residence, they found Andujo and arrested him in connection with the armed robbery.
He was booked into the Vista Detention Facility and is being held on $200,000 bail. He’s scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.
Officials said the investigation into the incident is ongoing.
