Morro Bay police find fleeing suspected felon

July 2, 2015

A Morro Bay man fled a home police were searching Wednesday morning, but he did not evade capture for long.

Around 11:26 a.m. Morro Bay detectives and police officers served a warrant at a home in the 900 block of Allesandro Street. The policemen were investigating a stolen property case resulting from attempted burglaries at two Morro Bay businesses.

During the search, 38-year-old Robert Michael Cruce fled by foot. Officers located Cruce nearby on Quintana Road after receiving calls from citizens who reported his whereabouts.

Police found Cruce hiding in the back of a vehicle. They arrested him without incident.

Cruce had methamphetamine, heroin and drug paraphernalia in his possession, according to a police department press release. He faces charges of having a felony warrant, having three outstanding misdemeanor warrants, resisting a peace officer, possession of methamphetamine, possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Officers also arrested, cited and released a Morro Bay man at the home they were searching. Robert Hoffa, 51, is charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance.

Police are pursuing other leads in the stolen property investigation. They are not releasing any other details about the case.

The police department says it is thankful for the the citizens who helped locate Cruce, and it encourages all citizens to promptly report suspicious activity.