The San Diego Police Department recently made a swift arrest in connection with a tragic homicide in the O'Farrell neighborhood of San Diego, demonstrating the effectiveness of advanced technology and regional cooperation.

On Aug. 24, officers responded to a call in the 6400 block of Madrone Avenue, where a 55-year-old resident had been stabbed and killed. The suspect had fled the scene in the victim’s stolen car.

Thanks to SDPD's Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) system, the stolen vehicle was able to be quickly located. Coordinating with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, our team was able apprehend the suspect just 14 hours after the initial report. The suspect was taken into custody and is now facing charges of murder and vehicle theft.

The quick apprehension of this dangerous suspect highlights the value of technology like license plate readers and smart streetlights. These modern investigative tools, which are only deployed to help in critical cases like this one, help police better serve our communities and ensure San Diego remains one of the safest big cities in the country.