LAKE ELSINORE: Pair arrested after allegedly robbing downtown business

LAKE ELSINORE — Two people were arrested after allegedly robbing a downtown Lake Elsinore business, Friday, Mar. 16, according to officials. Witnesses later helped deputies track the pair to an apartment complex just two streets and barely 2/10th’s of a mile away.

After an investigation, officials arrested Bryan Stiven Cruz, 21 and Julianne Rose Smith, 23, Both are residents of Lake Elsinore and both were later booked at Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta on suspicion of robbery and criminal conspiracy. Cruz was also booked for violation of probation.

Deputies assigned to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Lake Elsinore Police Station responded to the 300 block of N. Main Street about 9 pm, after receiving reports of an armed robbery that had just occurred, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Dan Ponder explained in a written press release.

When deputies arrived they spoke with the victim who told them “two suspects had entered the location, (brandished) a weapon, and demanded money,” wrote Ponder. “The victim cooperated and the two then fled the area.”

During their investigation, deputies “received information” that after the robbery the two suspects had possibly fled to the area of the 300 block of Lookout Drive.

Deputies converged on the area and located Cruz inside an apartment less than 40 minutes later and jail records indicated he was arrested just before 9:45 p.m. Smith was located in the same general area about an hour later.

“The suspects were taken into custody without incident, at which time the money and the weapon used in the robbery were also located,” said Ponder.

AN online jail record search revealed both Cruz and Smith remain in custody, held on  $30,000 bail each. Both are scheduled to be arraigned at Murrieta’s Southwest Justice Center, Mar. 21.

Anyone with additional information is urged to call Riverside County Sheriff’s dispatch at (951) 776-1099, or the Lake Elsinore Police Department at (951) 245-3300. Callers can refer to incident file number L180750086 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.