NOVATO – On Saturday, January 10th at approximately 3:30 pm, Novato Police Officers responded to a report of a robbery in progress in the 7300 block of Redwood Boulevard in downtown Novato. Officers made contact with a 30-year-old male victim who said that two male suspects had accosted him.
The victim explained to officers that the two suspects took an aggressive stance towards him and then challenged him to fight. The victim became fearful and fled the immediate area, leaving his backpack behind. The suspects had then taken the victim’s backpack and rummaged through it.
Both suspects were soon found. One of them refused to comply with officers when he was contacted, and then he actively resisted arrest. Neither the suspect nor the officers were injured in the action. The officers determined after further investigation that the suspects had conspired to intimidate the victim and to steal his personal belongings.
The first suspect was identified as Antoine Lamont Childs, a 27-year-old resident of San Rafael who lists his occupation as a street sweeper. Childs faces 3 felony charges including robbery, conspiracy and bringing narcotics into a jail. His bail has been set at $35,000. Childs has several previous arrests in the past year, including two charges for possessing drugs or alcohol in jail, in October of 2013 and March of 2014. On August 21 he was charged with domestic violence – inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or co-habitant and false imprisonment – along with marijuana possession. Records going back further show multiple arrests, including vehicle theft in 2009 and 2010, along with burglary, forgery, petty theft, and domestic violence.
The second suspect has been identified as Ryan Scott Grimes, a 24-year-old who also lives in San Rafael and lists an occupation in sales. He also faces felony charges of robbery and conspiracy. The bail for grimes has been set at $25,000. His recent history includes a October 30 arrest for selling marijuana and carrying a concealed dirk or dagger, along with a probation violation. He was also arrested in July for carrying a concealed dirk or dagger.
Both suspects listed the Ritter Center, a San Rafael homeless assistance center, as their residence, or at least mailing address. The three officers involved in the arrest and subsequent investigation are Novato Police Officers Smith, Sinnot and Corporal Jacob.
