Burglary suspects in high-speed pursuit from Barstow to DTLA identified

• The suspects shattered the window glass of the Bally’s store, entered the business, and stole several items of property.
• Officers pursued the mustang as it then entered Interstate 15 southbound freeway and accelerated to speeds excess of 100 MPH.
• Officers searched the mustang and recovered more than $11,000 dollars’ worth of stolen property from Bally’s.

BARSTOW, Calif. (VVNG.com) — Barstow Police identified the two suspects arrested in downtown Los Angeles after leading several agencies on a pursuit that made its way through multiple counties.

It happened on February 17, 2020, at about 1:47 am, when dispatch received a report of a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of the Barstow Outlets located in the 2900 block of Tanger Way.

According to a Barstow Police Department news release, the security company that monitors the area at night advised dispatch that a silver-colored mustang occupied by three suspects in dark clothing appeared to be looking into the closed business.

“The security company further advised dispatch that the mustang had just stopped near the Bally’s store and the suspects exited the vehicle with a sledgehammer and bags in their hands. The suspects shattered the window glass of the Bally’s store, entered the business, and stole several items of property. The suspects attempted to break the window glass to the Coach Outlet store but were unable to enter,” stated the release.

As officers arrived to the incident location the suspects entered their vehicle and began driving towards the exit.

Officers attempted to intercept the Mustang however, the driver aggressively accelerated towards the patrol vehicles causing officers to take evasive actions to avoid being struck by the vehicle as it fled out of the parking lot, officials said.

The suspect led officers on a pursuit on the southbound I-15 at speeds of excess of 100 MPH, officials said. The mustang began weaving in and out of traffic lanes showing no regard for the safety of other drivers on the roadway as it continued south on the freeway.

Officers requested assistance from The California Highway Patrol Airship (H80) who joined the pursuit as it approached Apple Valley. In Devore, the CHP airship took control of the pursuit while coordinating with ground units in the surrounding cities.

In the Greater Los Angeles area CHP ground units joined the pursuit and followed it until it eventually terminated in the Downtown area of Los Angeles.

When the vehicle stopped the suspects fled on foot. After a short foot pursuit, two of the suspects were apprehended and identified Francisco Javier Mena, a resident of Los Angeles and Jesus David Ayala, a resident of Whittier, both 23 years of age.

Officers searched the mustang and recovered more than $11,000 dollars’ worth of stolen property from Bally’s.

Mena and Ayala were transported to the CHP office in Baldwin Park where Corporal Cardenas took custody of both suspects, all of the stolen property, and transported them back to Barstow.

Corporal Cardenas itemized all of the stolen property and then released it back to the Bally’s Outlet store.

Francisco Mena was subsequently booked at the San Bernardino County Jail in Barstow for Penal Code 459- Burglary, Penal Code 496- Receiving Stolen Property, Penal Code 245(A) (1) – Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Penal Code 1203.2(a)-Probation Violation and California Vehicle Code 2800.2- Felony Evading.

Jesus Ayala was subsequently booked at the San Bernardino County Jail in Barstow for Penal Code 459- Burglary and Penal Code 496- Receiving Stolen Property.

Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation may contact Corporal Cardenas at the Barstow Police Department (760) 256-2211. Those wishing to remain anonymous may also report criminal activity by calling the WE-Tip hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or may leave information on the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com.

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