Palo Alto, CA --What began on June 26, 2006 as an interrupted residential burglary, but what turned into an armed robbery / car jacking and later an additional car jacking, and ended the evening with a manhunt in a Palo Alto neighborhood came to a conclusion. The continued investigation of those crimes has resulted in the identity and filing of charges against the long sought after suspect.

On that day in June, a resident came home to find a burglar inside his house in the 4100 block of Middlefield Road . The suspect pulled a handgun on the resident and fled in the resident's green Toyota pick-up truck. At 2:22 pm, less than 10 minutes later, a 9-1-1 caller reported a second car jacking at the Unitarian Church at 505 E. Charleston Road . The suspect abandoned the green Toyota pick-up in the area and switched to a stolen red Toyota Corolla. The suspect fled and later collided at the corner of W. Bayshore Road and Colorado Avenue , fleeing on foot. The police surrounded the adjoining neighborhood and a large search was conducted.

After more than five hours, the search was eventually called off. Patrol units circulated in the area throughout the night and did not locate the suspect who had been described as a Hispanic or dark skinned adult male with collar length dark hair wearing a grey t-shirt and black or blue jeans and believed to be armed with a handgun.

On June 27 th , 2006, at approximately 3:21am, two Palo Alto Police officers observed a suspicious person repairing his bicycle on the 3200 block of East Bayshore . The diligent and concerned officers contacted the male subject to offer assistance. They soon realized the subject matched the description of the suspect involved in the robbery and carjacking from the previous day. The officer investigated further and determined the subject, later identified as Luis G. Gonzalez, 43 years old, from East Palo Alto , was on active parole. Gonzalez was also found to be in possession of a handgun similar to the weapon used in the robbery/carjacking the previous day. The bicycle he was repairing was also determined to be stolen. Gonzalez was arrested and booked into the Santa Clara County main jail for weapons violations, possession of stolen property and a parole violation.

Additional follow-up investigation occurred during the past several months by investigative personnel that has linked Gonzalez, who has remained in custody, to the burglary, robbery and carjacking on June 26 th . On 18 Dec 06, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's office filed additional criminal complaints charging Luis G. Gonzalez with PC 459/460, first degree burglary, PC 211/212.5(c), robbery with the use of fear, PC12022.53(b), with the use of a firearm, PC215, and 12022.53(b) for the residential armed robbery and carjacking that occurred on the 4100 block of Middlefield Road. Additional charges of PC215, carjacking and 12022.52(b), have been filed for the armed carjacking that occurred at 505 East Charleston .

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