A man suspected of robbing a Fourth Street gas station July 13 was arrested Friday when an El Centro police officer on patrol spotted him, a sergeant said.
Officer Jesus Gonzalez saw Mario Espinoza walking along Fourth Street near Ross Avenue and saw he bore a resemblance to the suspect who held up the USA gas station, El Centro police Sgt. Jeff Mason said.
Gonzalez maneuvered his way through traffic to approach Espinoza, Mason said.
Espinoza, an 18-year-old El Centro resident, saw the officer’s car and fled on foot, Mason said. Another officer who was in the area assisted Gonzalez and chased Espinoza on foot before arresting him.
Last month, a Latino man standing about 5 feet 9 inches tall with a thin build entered the gas station and lifted up his shirt to reveal a handgun stuck in his waistband, police said.
