A suspect was behind bars Monday in connection with an assault that left a man dead in a neighborhood in Encanto.
Orange County sheriff's personnel arrested David Nava, 22, about 3:30 a.m. Sunday following a traffic stop and brief foot chase in Capistrano Beach, according to the San Diego Police Department.
Nava was being sought on suspicion of stabbing 55-year-old Francisco Cruz to death in the Encanto neighborhood of eastern San Diego and then stealing his car, SDPD Lt. Jud Campbell said.
Cruz was found dead in his home in the 6400 block of Madrone Avenue shortly before 2 p.m. Saturday. The motive for the alleged slaying remained unclear Monday.
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"Detectives are still working to determine how the suspect and victim (knew) each other," Campbell said.
The stolen car is what police say proved to be the link to them catching the suspect within 14 hours of Cruz's body being found. After the vehicle was entered into the automated license plate reader system, police say it was flagged in Dana Point.
"In the last six months, I want to say that we've recovered over 130 vehicles and made in excess of 113 arrests,” SDPD Capt. Jeff Jordon said. “Those arrests stem for all types of crimes: homicide, robbery, bank robbery, sexual assault and attempted kidnappings."
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The license plate reader program and 450 smart street light cameras, which started being used again in December, have many critics who have privacy and safety concerns.
Neighbors to the deadly crime in Encanto understand the concerns but applaud the results.
"As long as it's making the neighborhood safe, and they don’t overdo it, you know, getting innocent people. If that's what they need to do to get the murders down, I guess that’s just where we're at," Kenny Reid said.
Nava was being held without bail at San Diego Central Jail pending arraignment, scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
