Two arrested following Moreno Valley armed robbery, officials say
MORENO VALLEY – Deputies arrested two people on March 27, after one of the pair allegedly brandished a rifle during an armed robbery at a Moreno Valley Stater Bros., according to Riverside Sheriff Sergeant James Rayls. The business where the incident occurred is located in the 25000 block of Sunnymead Blvd.
Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s Moreno Valley Police Station responded to the business just after 1:30 p.m., after loss prevention officers from the store had called to report the incident.
When deputies arrived they met with loss prevention officers, who told the deputies they had detained an adult female for suspected shoplifting. The female resisted the loss prevention officer’s effort to detain her and she became physical with them. A male adult, who was reportedly with the female, “retrieved a rifle from his vehicle and brandished it at the loss prevention officers,” Rayles explained.
After the male brandished the weapon at loss prevention officers and threatened to shoot them, the two suspects fled the location in the vehicle they had arrived in.
Deputies conducted a thorough investigation and were able to obtain an address for a residence they believed was possibly related to one of the suspects.
At about 2:15 p.m., a sheriff’s helicopter located the suspect vehicle parked to the side of the residence, located in the 27000 block of Primrose Street, in Moreno Valley.
Deputies surrounded the residence and detained several people at the home. During their follow up investigation, deputies identified the two alleged suspects. Deputies also located evidence that was related to the robbery, according to Rayles.
Based on their investigation, witness statements and the recovered evidence, deputies determined Michael Sunny Miller, 28, of Santa Ana and Amanda Morgan Johnson, 29, of Garden Grove, were the pair who had robbed the Stater Bros.
Deputies arrested both suspects, who were later booked at the Robert Presley Detention Center for a variety of charges.
A jail records search indicated Miller was booked for armed robbery and making terrorist threats against the loss prevention officers.
Johnson was booked for robbery, burglary, possession of a controlled substance, theft and driving without a license.
Both alleged suspects are scheduled to be arraigned on March 30, at 8:00 a.m., at the Riverside Hall of Justice
Anyone with information related to this incident and arrest is encouraged to contact the Moreno Valley Police Department at (951) 486-6700. Callers can refer to incident file Number MV160870151 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.