Watsonville Police Chief Manny Solano was instrumental in arresting three suspected home burglars Thursday afternoon, the police department reported.
The chief was in the right spot at the right time to pull over a white Honda that had reportedly fled from a break-in on the 100 block of Carey Avenue, police said.
The burglary was reported around noon. A witness saw two men break into a home through a side door, then flee in the Honda, which was driven by a woman, police reported.
The car took off on Carey Avenue heading toward Green Valley Road. Solano spotted the car on Green Valley traveling toward Pinto Lake County Park. The car was stopped at gunpoint and three 19-year-olds were arrested, police said.
Miguel Geronimo, Luis Geronimo and Roseeva Smith were positively identified as the burglars by witnesses, police said. All three suspects were booked into County Jail on suspicion of burglary, possessing stolen property and conspiracy.
Items stolen from the home were recovered and returned to the owners, according to police.
