Officers Arrested One That Night, The Other Was Arrested The Day After
HOLLISTER—Investigators with the Hollister Police Department have arrested two suspects in a home invasion robbery that occurred on 400 Block of Haydon Street on Saturday night. They arrested 21-year-old Juan Garcia and 28-year-old Peter Avila, both of Hollister.
At midnight, on Saturday, Santa Cruz Communications received a call reporting that a home invasion robbery was in process. The caller stated that the masked suspects were carrying firearms. The caller was unsure whether there were two or three suspects.
The suspects fled the scene as Hollister Police arrived. Officers chased the two suspects but one was able to get away before police could set up a perimeter. Officer Bill Hutchison and Deputy Mike Mull of the San Benito County Sheriffs Office were able to arrest Garcia that night.
Peter Avila was captured the next day looking for a ride.
Investigators determined that the suspects broke into the occupied home, ransacked it and injured two individuals while looking for valuables. They fled as arriving officers alerted them. The next morning the Hollister Police received a call that there was a suspicious person around Rancho School, asking for a ride.
Officer Luis Toribio arrived and located that person. Other officers identified the person as Avila, the suspect that had escaped the previous night’s dragnet. Officer Toribio took him into custody without further incident.
“To combat home invasions, people need to be more aware of their surroundings. Call the police if they notice suspicious activity in their neighborhood.” Hollister Police Captain Carlos Reynoso said, “Most home invasion are pre-planned, so don’t advertise your lifestyle. The bottom line is get involved with your community, if you notice something, call the police. If they keep getting the police called on them they are more likely to leave you alone.”
Both Garcia and Avila were transported to the San Benito County Jail. The two, who were originally from the San Jose area, face charges of robbery, false imprisonment, home invasion, assault with a deadly weapon and conspiracy. Avila received an additional charge of violating his parole.
