BIG BEAR-– (INT) - Deputies are asking for the public's assistance in locating an assault, burglary suspect who is armed.

A witness observed a man break into a vehicle in the parking lot in the Interlaken Shopping Center in Big Bear Lake, Saturday, taking items from inside the car. The witness chased the male suspect, who brandished a weapon and made threatening statements. The suspect then ran into the open field behind the shopping center.

Less than 10 minutes later, deputies responded to a report of an attempted vehicle theft that had occurred at approximately 4:45 p.m. in the K-Mart parking lot.

An unknown man, matching the same description as the suspect from the Interlaken Shopping Center, broke into a vehicle in the parking lot. The suspect fled the area when the vehicle owner yelled at him to get out of the car.

As a result of the information received from observant witnesses, deputies were able to identify the suspect as 23-year-old Michael Reyes, Jr. Reyes has active felony warrants issued against him for prior criminal history of assault with a deadly weapon and drug related charges.

Story Date: March 19, 2015