Lodi man arrested after chase through S.J., Calaveras counties

ANGELS CAMP — The California Highway Patrol arrested a Lodi man who reportedly robbed a pharmacy and then led authorities on a chase in a stolen vehicle through Calaveras and San Joaquin counties.

Ricardo Vasquez-Moreno, 30, was arrested on suspicion of robbery, criminal conspiracy and vehicle theft Thursday afternoon.

The Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a robbery about 1:15 p.m. Thursday at the CVS Pharmacy at 41 N. Main St. in Angels Camp.

Authorities were told two Latino men wearing hooded sweatshirts and baseball caps were first seen loitering around the store, the Sheriff ’s Office reported. The men then jumped the pharmacy counter and grabbed medication.

The robbers ran out and drove away from the store, but a witness called Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office dispatch to provide a description of the vehicle, which was said to be a gray Honda sedan.

Two deputies responding to the call spotted a Honda that was leaving the area, according to the Sheriff ’s Office. Deputies tried to pull over the car, which was reported stolen out of Lodi, but the driver wouldn’t stop.

Calaveras County deputies chased the car on Highway 49 out of Angels Camp and into San Andreas, at which time officers from the California Highway Patrol took over the pursuit, the Sheriff ’s Office said.

The CHP continued the car chase out of Calaveras Coun- ty and into San Joaquin County, where the Honda was disabled.

Authorities said officers used a spike strip that immobilized the Honda on Highway 12 near Atkins Road in Clements. Officers reported finding evidence inside and outside the Honda that linked the men to the robbery.

Vasquez-Moreno was immediately taken into custody, but a second person ran away into a nearby vineyard, the Sheriff ’s Office reported. Calaveras County deputies, CHP officers and other law enforcement agencies conducted an extensive search for the second robber, but he was not found.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Angels Camp Police Department at (209) 736-2567.