EASTVALE: Alleged suspect arrested after attempted robbery of yogurt, cash

EASTVALE — A man authorities allege attempted to rob a business of yogurt and cash Tuesday evening, Jan. 16, was arrested the following day, just one block from where the attempted robbery was reported. The incident occurred at Yogurt-Licious, on the 6900 block of Hamner Avenue near Riverboat Drive, in Eastvale.

After an investigation, deputies arrested Chibuikem Gregory Ibekwe, 26, of Eastvale, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Edmond Seltzer explained after Ibekwe’s arrest. He was later booked into Robert Presley Detention Center on suspicion of attempted robbery and violation of probation.

Deputies assigned to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Eastvale Police Station responded to the business about 7:30 p.m., after a customer at the store called 911 and reported an attempted robbery at the location.

The suspect, later identified as Ibekwe, fled the store and area before deputies arrived at the business.

An employee later told authorities that Ibekwe entered the business through a rear door “and demanded yogurt and money,” said Seltzer.

The sole-employee at the business fled out the front door of the yogurt shop, at which time a customer called 911 to report the incident.

The alleged suspect, who was reportedly not armed with a weapon at the time of the attempted robbery, “left the area on foot, without cash or yogurt,” according to Seltzer.

Deputies searched the area for the man; however, they were not successful in locating him that evening.

The next day, deputies responding to reports of a suspicious person on the 13000 block of Schleisman Road detained a man, at which time they realized the subject matched the description of the prior evening’s attempted robbery suspect. At least one of the victim/witnesses from the yogurt shop later identified Ibekwe as the man who had attempted to rob the business.

The Sheriff’s investigation is active and ongoing.

Anyone with further information is encouraged to contact Deputy Christopher Johnson from the Jurupa Valley Sheriff’s Station at (951) 955-2600. Callers can refer to incident file number EV180160087 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, who recently moved from Riverside County to Shasta County, runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.