Victim chases, catches robbery suspect

A victim of a robbery chased the three suspects in his car before detaining one of them a gun point until police arrived.

On Tuesday at about 2:30 p.m., Alex Zontec, a 19-year-old woman, and a 17-year-old boy, who police did not identify, went into El Ranchito Market, 758 N. Main St.

While there, the victim said Zontec took two cartoons of cigarettes after he was tackled by the boy.

Zontec and the boy ran out of the store and jumped into a getaway vehicle allegedly driven by Nicholas Jansson, 21.

The victim got in his car and chased the suspects, catching up with them in the 100 block of East Olivewood Court where he tried to block the suspects in a cul-de-sac.

When the victim got out of he car he said the suspects tried to run over him.

The victim got back in his car and chased them again, eventually catching them at 748 N. Main St.

When the suspects ran, the victim, who had a permit to carry a concealed weapon, detained Jansson at gun point until he was finally able to flag down Officer Mariko Williams of the Porterville Police Department, who arrested Jansson.

During the investigation Zontec was located at a residence in the 200 block of West School Avenue. The 17-year-old boy later turned himself in to police.

All three suspects were arrested for suspicion of commercial burglary, assault with a deadly weapon and robbery. They were taken to the Tulare County Main Jail and Juvenile Hall.

The stolen property was recovered and there are no additional suspects, police said.