Robbery suspects arrested after high-speed chase on Hwy. 101 from Atascadero to SLO
A vehicle pursuit that started in Atascadero and reached speeds over 100 mph ended in San Luis Obispo Friday morning with the arrest of a suspect believed to be involved in a robbery a couple nights earlier.
According to a news release from the Atascadero Police Department, at around 11:55 p.m. Wednesday evening, APD officers responded to Outlaws Bar and Grill in the 9800 block of East Front Road regarding a robbery.
Two suspects approached two victims who were seated in front of the business, with one suspect brandishing a firearm from his waistband, the release said.
The suspect ordered both victims out of the vehicle, and one victim was struck in the head by one of the suspect’s fists, the release said.
The suspects took cash and a check from the pockets of the victims, the release said, before departing the location on foot.
An APD Investigations Unit later identified the suspects as Sebastian Yciano, a 23-year-old transient living in Paso Robles, and Elmer Quiterio, a 29-year-old male resident of Atascadero, as suspects, the release said.
Arrest and search warrants were sought for both individuals, the release said.
On Friday morning, APD investigators were conducting surveillance of one suspect’s residence in the 7800 block of Castano Avenue, during which a vehicle was observed leaving the home around 9:18 a.m., the release said.
“Officers attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle, which had multiple occupants inside,” the release stated. “The vehicle failed to stop, and a vehicle pursuit was initiated. During the pursuit, a firearm was thrown from the vehicle.”
The firearm was later recovered by officers, the release said.
During the pursuit, Yciano exited the vehicle on Highway 101, and was apprehended by pursuing officers, the release said.
As the pursuit moved south on Highway 101 over the Cuesta Grade, the vehicle apparently drove into oncoming traffic at times before eventually exiting onto Monterey Street in San Luis Obispo and heading south on Johnson Avenue, according to radio traffic.
Pursuing officers from Atascadero and San Luis Obispo lost visual contact with the vehicle somewhere in the area of Johnson Avenue and Laurel Lane around 9:45 a.m.
Quitero was stopped at gunpoint by law enforcement officers and was taken into custody around 9:50 a.m. in the area of Laurel Lane and Flora Street.
“Two female occupants of the vehicle were contacted and released near the scene,” the release stated. “A backpack containing another firearm was located after being discarded near a residence.”
Yciano and Quiterio were booked into San Luis Obispo County Jail on charges of robbery, criminal threats and several additional charges, the release said.
Both Yciano and Quiterio are still in jail on bails of $270,00 and $160,000, respectively.
This story was originally published May 19, 2023 at 10:38 AM.
