Rob A Drug Dealer…Still Get Arrested…Maybe…

If you have been entertaining the notion that a surefire way to make quick easy money is to rob drug dealers, you should deliberate if they will be angry enough to still call authorities on you even if it means they may have to incriminate themselves.

Drug Transaction Gone Bad

Many criminals prey on other criminals as it is less likely that they will be reported or do any jail time for their transgressions.  However, some criminals have been known for “skirting the system” and have found loopholes to do just that. Take for instance the recent arrests and charges put against two of three individuals who allegedly held up multiple victims at gunpoint during a marijuana transaction on July 5th at around 6 pm. in Hopland, Mendocino County.

Despite conflicting statements from the numerous victims, deputies were able to ascertain that there had indeed been a marijuana transaction and that marijuana, cell phones and one victim’s car keys had been stolen before the three suspects fled in a black Dodge Challenger with tinted windows.

After officers located and pursued the vehicle, the Challenger was stopped in Healdsburg where the three suspects then fled on foot.  Sonoma County Sheriff’s deputies were able to locate, detain and arrest three individuals. Two of the three were positively identified by the robbed victims. Gregory Ladel Jenkins Jr. , 24,was arrested at around 11 pm and the next morning at around 5:30 am Michael Edwin Steele, 24, and a third individual were picked up as well. The last subject that had been arrested was not positively identified by victims.

The third suspect was deemed as a respondent to Michael Edwin Steele as having called him and saying that he had been robbed while trying to purchase marijuana in Santa Rosa.  The subject had no knowledge that officers sought Michael Edwin Steele for the robbery in Hopland. After confirming the third subject’s statements he was released without charges.

Sonoma County Law Enforcement are advising residents to be on the lookout for the third suspect as he is still at large.

Gregory Laden Jenkins Jr. and Michael Edwin Steele were booked into the Mendocino County Jail and are held on $250,000 bail.

The investigation into the Hopland robbery is ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Office Tip-Line by calling 707-234-2100.

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Update: The AVA.com

Redheaded Blackbelt: Marijuana and Car Stolen at Gunpoint in Hopland