Federal fugitive arrested in Escondido rape, armed robbery

By Caroline Dipping
Originally published May 19, 2011 at 1:23 p.m.,
updated May 19, 2011 at 2:43 p.m.

ESCONDIDO — Escondido police released more information Thursday about the man suspected in the armed robbery, rape and vehicle theft of a store employee in a strip mall Wednesday night.

Jugo Elmer Garcia, 18, was arrested a few blocks away about five hours later after attempting to rob two people, police Lt. Chris Wynn said.

In January, an immigration judge had ordered Garcia out of the country. His failure to leave made him a federal fugitive, Wynn said,

The first alleged assault on Wednesday was reported about 5:07 p.m. at Family Accessories in the Valley Plaza Shopping Center on East Valley Parkway, near North Rose Street. A woman was working alone in the store when a man came in with a gun, Wynn said.

Police said the man raped the woman, robbed her and took her car keys. He left in her 2000 Ford Expedition.

While officers were looking for the assailant, they received a report of an attempted armed robbery of two women as they were leaving a check cashing business a block away on East Valley Parkway. The women ran to another business and called police about 9:30 p.m., Wynn said.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents working with Escondido police spotted the stolen SUV in a parking lot at East Valley Parkway and Beech Street about 10 p.m. The driver was arrested after agents found a handgun in the SUV and victims from the attempted robbery identified him, Wynn said.

Garcia was booked into the Vista jail on two counts of armed robbery, two counts of attempted armed robbery, one count of rape, one count of auto theft and one count of possession of a loaded firearm, Wynn said. Other charges are being evaluated, he said.

caroline.dipping@uniontrib.com; (619) 293-2823

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