RIVERSIDE: Trio sought after attacking female manager, customer during robbery

RIVERSIDE — Authorities are seeking the public’s help identifying three people who allegedly attacked a female store manager while stealing about $700 in store merchandise. Officials allege the suspects then rammed a good Samaritan’s vehicle and pointing an AR-15-style rifle at the man before fleeing the area.

The robbery and violent attacks happened at a Dollar General Monday afternoon, Jan. 22, on the 4100 block of Tyler Street in Riverside. According to Riverside PD officials the same trio is suspected of another similar robbery that happened in Corona the prior day.

Riverside PD responded to the business about 4:20 p.m., after receiving reports of the robbery. Officers later learned the three alleged suspects entered the business and stole approximately 100 Blu-Ray movies.

As the trio were leaving the business without paying for the movies, a store manager followed behind them while trying to take their photographs. One of the suspects then “punched the female manager in the face and chest before forcibly taking her cellphone,” officials explained in a social media release requesting help identifying the three people.

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As the suspects got into their vehicle to flee, a customer tried to block their escape with his vehicle, at which time the suspects rammed the man’s car and drove off. The good Samaritan called 911 and continued to follow the fleeing suspects into another adjacent parking lot, where one of the suspects pointed an AR-15 type rifle out the window while ordering the customer to stop following them. The suspects then fled the parking lot and were last seen driving westbound on Magnolia Avenue.

The first suspect was described as a light-skinned, Black male adult, 20 to 30 years old, 5’5″, 140 pounds, with buzzed black hair, hazel eyes, and a beard.

The second suspect was described as a light-skinned, Black male adult, 20 to 30 years old, 5’7″, 150 pounds, with short curly style hair and brown eyes.

The third suspect was described as a Black female adult, 20 to 30 years old, 5″6″, 200 pounds, with brown braided hair and brown eyes.

The suspects were last seen driving away in a burgundy, newer model, 4-door SUV, possibly a Mitsubishi Montero, with tinted windows, paper plates, and collision damage to the front end.

Any who recognizes any of these suspects or who has information regarding this investigation, is encouraged to contact Detective Andy Cook at (951) 353-7953 or by email, or Detective Aurelio Melendrez at (951) 353-7119 or by email. Callers can refer to incident file number P18013719 and can remain anonymous.

 

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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.