Oceanside CA— Early this morning March 3, 2021, just before 6:00am, Oceanside Police officers responded to a residence on Old Ranch Road for a report of a hot-prowl burglary. The 74 year-old resident was beaten by the suspect when discovered in his kitchen.
The suspect escaped via the backyard fence with a cellphone and two laptops. The victim suffered several lacerations to the head that needed stitches and was subsequently transported to Tri City Medical Center for treatment.
Officers were able to locate a witness at the dead end of Hitching Post Dr. who saw a potential suspect in the large field that is bordered by SR-76, Guajome Lake Rd and Hitching Post Dr.
The suspect when spotted, refused to give up and began trying to get away by running through the brush. A perimeter was set up and OPD’s UAS Team and an SDSO K9 responded.
The suspect ended up pushing east until he saw another officer at the dead end of Hitching Post Dr. The suspect was taken into custody without further resistance.
The suspect identified as 35 year-old, James Marcks had property in his pockets and a backpack containing property from several other residences in the neighborhood to include that of the 74 year- old victim.
Marcks was booked into the Vista Detention Facility on charges that include Burglary, Robbery and Parole Violations.
Suspect that Assaulted 74 Year-old Oceanside Resident During Burglary in Custody
March 3, 2021