MORENO VALLEY: Knife-wielding man arrested after allegedly robbing restaurant
MORENO VALLEY — A distinctively tattooed probationer is in custody after allegedly using a knife to rob a restaurant, Tuesday morning, Feb. 13. The alleged robber, who has visible tattoos covering his face and neck, was tracked down to a Moreno Valley home were he was found hiding and taken into custody.
Deputies and SET members located and arrested Francisco Miranda after he allegedly used a knife to rob a Moreno Valley restaurant. RSO booking photo
After an investigation officials arrested Francisco Miranda, 24, of Moreno Valley. He was booked into Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside on suspicion of second degree robbery and violation of probation. He remains in custody, held on $50,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned at the Riverside Hall Of Justice, Feb. 15.
Deputies and Special Enforcement Team members assigned to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Moreno Valley Police Station responded to the restaurant on the 14000 block of Moreno Beach Drive, about 10 a.m., after receiving reports of an armed robbery that had jut occurred, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Jeremy Harding explained after the robbery and arrest.
When they arrived officials learned one suspect, later identified as Miranda, “entered the restaurant and held an employee at knife point while demanding cash,” said Harding. “The suspect stole an undisclosed amount of cash from the business and fled the area.”
During their investigation, SET members positively identified Miranda as the alleged suspect and tracked him to a residence on the 16000 block of Heather Glen Road in Moreno Valley where he was found hiding and taken into custody.
Officials did not specify if they located and recovered the stolen cash or knife that Miranda allegedly used during the robbery.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Robbery and Burglary Suppression Team at the Moreno Valley Station by calling (951) 486-6700. Callers can refer to incident file number MV180440203 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.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 27 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 14 grandchildren.