Vista CA— On Friday, February 27, 2015 at 12:09 PM, Vista deputies responded to a shoplifting call at the Union 76 gas station located 485 N. Melrose Drive, in the city of Vista. The reporting party stated three juveniles had stolen items from inside the station store.
When Vista deputies arrived on scene, they observed five male subjects standing outside the gas station. A 17-year-old Vista Home Boys (VHB) gang associate ran and dropped a loaded .40 caliber handgun in the gas station parking lot.
He was apprehended a short distance away by Deputy Haddad. Abel Abrego (01-11-93), who is a documented VHB gang member, was seen running from the gas station toward a condominium complex located in the 300 block of North Melrose Drive.
Additional deputies responded to the scene, established a perimeter, and conducted a search for Abrego.
Abrego was located in a ditch area behind the condominium complex and apprehended without incident. The 17-year-old was arrested on felony firearm possession charges along with felony gang enhancement charges. Abrego was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance and felony gang enhancement charges.