Homeless man reportedly spied jail escapees and alerted police in San Francisco
A San Francisco homeless man is being credited with helping catch the two Orange County jail escapees who were arrested Saturday in the Haight Ashbury District.
Matthew Hay-Chapman noticed a van parked in a lot near a Whole Foods Market matching the description of the one they had allegedly stolen, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
The Chronicle interviewed Hay-Chapman. He said he had just been reading about the case in the newspaper -- and noted that the escapees were supposed to be in a white van. He said he also recognized one of the men.
Authorities said police were attending to an unrelated medical emergency when a man flagged down officers. The man told them he suspected that a white van parked near the market at Haight and Stanyan streets was “the one wanted in the Orange County jail escape,” said San Francisco police Officer Grace Gatpandan.
See more of our top stories on Facebook >>
Officers began looking in the immediate area for the man -- later identified as Hossein Nayeri -- and found him near Waller and Stanyan streets, Gatpandan said. Police chased and arrested him after a short pursuit.
When the officers went back to the van, they found the second suspect, Jonathan Tieu, hiding inside.
Hay-Chapman told the Chronicle he feel he deserves some of the reward offered in the case.
MORE ON THE O.C. JAIL BREAK.
O.C. Sheriff’s Department examines what went wrong as fugitives return to jail
Orange County jailbreak was an ‘embarrassment,’ sheriff says
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
