Armed robbery suspect evades police, Cal Poly security

SAN LUIS OBISPO — A masked man armed with a semi-automatic handgun escaped police after being kicked in the stomach by one of two security guards he was trying to rob near an apartment complex at the Cal Poly campus early Friday morning.

Armed Robbery

The attempted armed robbery occurred just after midnight on the 0 block of Mustang, near Cal Poly building 111, where the security guards were doing a patrol of the apartment complex, police officials said.

The suspect approached the two security guards wearing a ski mask, ski goggles and dark clothing, said San Luis Obispo police Sgt. Jeff Smith. The suspect then began running at the two security guards, Michael Leon, 28, and Otis Vanadore, 33, both of Atascadero.

The masked man pushed one of the security guards to the ground and demanded money from the second security guard, Smith said. After the second security guard told the man that he had no money, the suspect pulled out a semi-automatic handgun from his waistband and approached the security guard on the ground.

The suspect demanded money from the second security guard while pointing the gun at him, Smith said. From the ground, the security guard refused to give up any money and kicked the suspect in the midsection.

The suspect responded by kicking the security guard twice in the rib area and then ran off, northbound, toward the rear of the apartment complex, police officials said.

Police officers arrived shortly after, but they were unable to locate the fleeing suspect.

If anyone has additional information that could lead to the capture of the suspect, they should call the San Luis Obispo Police Department at (805) 781-7312 or Crime Stoppers at (805) 549-7867.