Photo Courtesy of CNN
The two Orange County jail escapees who remained at large after a daring escape eight days ago were arrested in San Francisco after a citizen noticed a van matching the description of the one they had allegedly stolen parked in a lot near a Whole Foods Market, officials said Saturday.
Authorities said police were attending to an unrelated a medical emergency when a man a flagged down officers. The man told them he suspected that a white van parked near the market at Haight and Stanyan streets was “the one wanted in the Orange County jail escape,” said San Francisco police Officer Grace Gatpandan.
Officers began looking in the immediate area for the man – later identified as Hossein Nayeri – and found him near Waller and Stanyan streets, Gatpandan said. Police chased and arrested him after a short pursuit.
When the officers went back to the van, they found the second suspect, Jonathan Tieu, hiding inside. He did not attempt to resist or escape, Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens said.
Police said they recovered ammunition but no weapons inside the van. The pair were taken to the San Francisco police’s Park Station and will eventually be moved to the county jail.
“I can say this morning that the entire state can breathe a sigh of relief,” the sheriff said at a noon news briefing.
The arrests unfolded just before 9 a.m. Saturday, when San Francisco police said the citizen approached officers about a suspicious person and vehicle. (The Orange County sheriff initially identified the tipster as a woman, but San Francisco police clarified later that the citizen was a man.)
Officers quickly found Nayeri, who took off running when he caught sight of the officers, Gatpandan said. Nayeri ran toward a lake and around Kezar Stadium and then back toward the Park District Police Station, she said.
“Officers broadcast there was a foot pursuit and officers came out of the park station to assist,” Gatpandan said.
The van was discovered near Haight and Stanyan streets, authorities said. Tieu was concealed inside and taken into custody. Investigators believe the men lived out of the van for days.
Police patrols stood outside the Whole Foods as well as inside the entrance near an oil skincare display Saturday afternoon. With the transient population across the street at Golden Gate Park, locals said they were not surprised the fugitives wandered into this area.
“This is the perfect spot to blend in,” said Lauren Bowen, a mother of two who lives near the store. “They see a whole group of people finding refuge and they can try to do the same.”
Bo Allen, a San Francisco resident on a Saturday morning walk, said he saw “a commotion with someone running and police behind him.”
“They were yelling at him to stop but he didn’t,” Allen said. “I had no idea this was the inmate in the news.”
As of Saturday afternoon, Hutchens said she was not aware of anyone who was hurt by the escapees.
A third escapee, Bac Duong, surrendered to authorities in Santa Ana on Friday, a week after the three broke out of the Santa Ana lockup.
The arrests ended a massive manhunt for the men, who all were charged with violent crimes.
“This is one of a sheriff’s worst nightmares,” said Hutchens, adding that she did a “big whoop in the air” upon learning of the arrests.