Man arrested after chase from Costa Mesa to Corona

A man who reportedly matched the description of a gunman wanted in connection with seven serial killings in the Phoenix area was taken into custody early Thursday after a pursuit that started in Costa Mesa and ended with a standoff on the 91 Freeway in Corona.

A woman who had been with the man called Costa Mesa police around 12:30 a.m. to tell them the man had a gun and that he looked like the composite sketch of the killer released by Phoenix police, according to Costa Mesa police Sgt. Mike Manson.

Phoenix police later told KTLA-TV/5 that they had been in contact with local authorities and do not believe the incident was related to the killings.

Police said the man had just dropped off the woman at the Sandpiper Motel. Officers who responded saw his vehicle, a Subaru, about a block away at the intersection of Newport Beach and 19th Street, police said.

“Officers went to stop him and the chase was on,” Manson said. Costa Mesa police quickly handed off the chase to the California Highway Patrol.

Law enforcement chased the man on the northbound 605 Freeway, then east on the 210 Freeway, west on the 10 Freeway, south on the 215 Freeway and finally west on the 91 Freeway.

At about 2 a.m., the man stopped near McKinley Street but did not surrender, CHP Officer Marcelo Llerena said.

The standoff closed the freeway and went on for about two hours until the man was taken into custody. He was identified as Hector Vasquez, 43, of Beverly Hills.

He was holding what appeared to be a black handgun as he exited the Subaru, according to authorities, who said he tossed the gun onto the eastbound freeway lanes before he was taken into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs, brandishing a weapon and evading police.

A pellet gun was recovered from Vasquez’s belongings, authorities said.

KTLA contributed to this report.