Update: Police Say Suspect Captured in Hallmark Neighborhood Was Armed

Belmont and San Mateo police continue their investigation into the residential burglary and pursuit of three suspects, one of whom was armed with a handgun, that ended with the arrest of all three--two on a cul-de-sac in a Belmont condominium complex and one on Hallmark Drive.

According to police, at approximately 10:25 a.m. Thursday, a home in the 100 block of Lakewood Circle was burglarized. Witnesses called San Mateo Police and gave a description of the vehicle and a partial license plate number.

At 11:14 a.m. San Mateo police located the suspects' vehicle on Hwy. 101 in San Carlos and

Lt. Pat Halleran of the Belmont Police Department and Sgt. Dave Norris of the San Mateo Police Department confirmed that one of the three suspects was armed, but no shots were fired.

Belmont and San Mateo police continue their investigation into the residential burglary and pursuit of three suspects, one of whom was armed with a handgun, that ended with the arrest of all three on a cul-de-sac in a Belmont condominium complex.

According to police, at approximately 10:25 a.m. Thursday, a home in the 100 block of Lakewood Circle was burglarized. Witnesses called San Mateo Police and gave a description of the vehicle and a partial license plate number.

At 11:14 a.m. San Mateo police located the suspects' vehicle on Hwy. 101 in San Carlos and pursued the vehicle northbound on Hwy. 101 to Ralston Avenue, continuing westbound on Ralston Avenue to Hallmark Drive and ultimately to Rinconada Circle in the Hallmark neighborhood.

During the pursuit on Rinconada Circle, the suspects' vehicle, a beige Hyundai Santa Fe, the Hyundai collided with an unmarked Belmont police car and an officer was injured. The officer sustained non life-threatening injuries and is being treated at a local hospital.

Two of the three suspects were apprehended on Rinconada Circle and a third fled on foot between the condominiums at the end of the cul-de-sac. Police chased the suspect on foot and apprehended him in the 2800 block of Hallmark Drive.

“This is a really quiet neighborhood, so when I heard sirens and heard people yelling, I knew something was going on,” said a resident of Rinconada Circle who witnessed the arrests.

She said police handcuffed two of the suspects and had them sitting on the curb in front of her condominium.

Another witness who asked not to be identified said most people don’t know that there is only one vehicle entrance and exit to the Hallmark neighborhood. “They didn’t realize that once they turned in here, there was no way to get out,” he said.

Due to the proximity of the incident to two area schools, police ordered Fox Elementary and Ralston Middle schools to be placed on lockdown. The lockdown was lifted approximately 15 minutes later after all three suspects were in custody.

A San Mateo police K-9 unit combed the area for any additional evidence, but found none.

Police have not yet released names or ages of the suspects, but have confirmed that all three were male. The San Mateo Police Department will be the lead agency in the investigation since the initial crime was committed in a San Mateo neighborhood.

Parents at Fox and Ralston and residents in the Hallmark neighborhood received phone messages via the city’s teleminder service that alerts residents of dangerous situations and other police-related incidents.

The teleminder also told residents that they may see an increased police presence in the neighborhood as officers continue to obtain witness information.

Both Lt. Halleran and Sgt. Norris credited residents in San Mateo and Belmont for being alert and providing important details to police.

“A very alert neighbor on Lakewood Circle (San Mateo) gave us a good description of the vehicle and really critical information about the suspects, including a portion of the license plate number,” said Norris.

“And in Belmont, we had residents calling us telling us they had spotted the suspects,” added Halleran.

Both officers stressed the importance of citizens calling police and not taking matters into their own hands.

“This is a good example of when calling us is the right thing to do,” said Halleran.

Norris added, “These are dangerous individuals---one was armed and we want everyone to know they should not be embarrassed to call us when something just doesn’t seem right.”

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