Man slips by cops, then nabbed Man slips by cops, then nabbed (May 12, 2004)

By David Boyce
Almanac Staff Writer

Two Menlo Park police officers, responding to a silent burglar alarm, surprised a man using an electric grinder to break into a safe in the Menlo Square Launderette on Alma Street at about 7 a.m. Friday, May 7.

The man "slipped by" the officer who entered the launderette, escaped and ran east into the area of Noel Drive and Pine and Laurel streets, said Sgt. Mark Boettger. "He was very intent on getting away," Sgt. Boettger said.

After setting up a perimeter and searching for about an hour, a police dog flushed the man from some bushes and into the path of a police officer. After a brief struggle, Larry Daniel Fuller, 47, of San Francisco was arrested and booked into county jail on charges of commercial burglary.

The capture involved some 15 officers, including county sheriff's deputies and officers of the Atherton, Belmont and Palo Alto police departments, Sgt. Boettger said. The Belmont police brought the dog.

Neighbors helped with comments such as: "He went that way," said Sgt. Boettger. "There are never enough police," he added. "We count on other eyes and ears. The citizens did a great job."

The officer who wrestled with Mr. Fuller suffered minor cuts and scrapes, but there were no other injuries. Mr. Fuller did not admit to the burglary charges, but was "very apologetic" about the officer's injuries and for running away, Sgt. Boettger said.

When captured, Mr. Fuller was wearing a different set of clothes, Sgt. Boettger said. Mr. Fuller admitted to having redressed himself with clothes stolen from a clothes line. Police said they are still waiting to hear from the owner of the stolen clothes.

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