A wanted California man was arrested after he unexpectedly walked into a Panda Express where Monrovia police officers were eating lunch. The officers recognized him from two earlier encounters in which police said he escaped by running onto a freeway. His arrest ended a month-long effort to serve a no-bail felony probation warrant.
Body camera footage released Thursday shows officers moving quickly to take the unidentified man into custody inside the restaurant. Police said the July 17 encounter was an unlikely break in the search, as the suspect walked directly toward the officers during their meal break.
The Monrovia Police Department said the man was wanted for a probation violation. After the arrest, officers returned to their food and finished eating, according to the department.
| 1) | Police pursue a month-long warrant |
| 2) | Two freeway escapes delay the arrest |
| 3) | The suspect enters the officers’ restaurant |
| 4) | Body camera footage captures the arrest |
| 5) | Officers return to lunch after the capture |
Police pursue a month-long warrant
Monrovia police had been trying for about a month to arrest an unidentified man wanted on a no-bail felony probation warrant. The warrant was connected to an alleged probation violation, and officers were seeking to take him into custody in Monrovia, California. Police did not release additional information about the underlying felony or the man’s identity.
The department said the arrest effort required officers to recognize the suspect in public and act when an opportunity arose. The case remained active until the restaurant encounter on July 17.
Two freeway escapes delay the arrest
Before the successful arrest, officers had attempted to take the man into custody on two separate occasions while he was walking. Police said he ran onto a freeway both times, allowing him to evade the officers. The department did not provide further details about the locations or circumstances of those attempts.
Those escapes extended the search and made the eventual encounter particularly unexpected. By the time the suspect entered the restaurant, officers already recognized him from the earlier pursuit efforts.
The suspect enters the officers’ restaurant
The breakthrough occurred while Monrovia officers were taking a lunch break at Panda Express. According to police, the wanted man walked into the restaurant and came directly toward the officers. The location was not identified beyond being a California Panda Express.
The officers quickly shifted from eating to making the arrest. Police later joked that the capture may have resulted from good police work, poor timing, or the appeal of chow mein, but the department said the suspect was taken into custody without providing further details about the arrest.
Body camera footage captures the arrest
Body camera video released Thursday shows two officers seated inside the restaurant before moving to restrain the suspect. The footage depicts officers taking him to the ground. During the encounter, the man asks, “What did I do?”
“You’ve been wanted. You’ve been running from me for like a month,” an officer responds.
The video was recorded during the July 17 arrest and released several weeks later. Police said the footage and the department’s public comments represented the available statement on the incident.
Officers return to lunch after the capture
After taking the wanted man into custody, the officers went back to the restaurant and finished their meal, according to the department. Police presented the detail humorously in their public account, while confirming that the arrest ended the immediate effort to serve the warrant.
The department said it would provide no additional information at this time. The man’s name, the original felony case and any subsequent court proceedings were not disclosed.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | The suspect was wanted on a no-bail felony probation warrant. |
| 2 | Police said he escaped two earlier arrest attempts by running onto a freeway. |
| 3 | He was arrested on July 17 after entering the Panda Express where officers were eating. |
| 4 | Body camera footage was released Thursday, and police said no further details would be provided. |
Summary
A month-long search for a man wanted on a felony probation warrant ended when he walked into the same restaurant where Monrovia officers were having lunch. Police said the man had previously escaped two arrest attempts by running onto a freeway. Officers recognized and arrested him inside the Panda Express, then returned to finish their meal. The department has not released the suspect’s identity or additional case details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the man wanted?
Police said he was wanted on a no-bail felony probation warrant stemming from an alleged probation violation.
How had he previously avoided arrest?
According to police, he ran onto a freeway during two separate encounters with officers while he was walking.
When did the restaurant arrest occur?
The arrest occurred July 17, and body camera footage was released several weeks later on Thursday.
