Riverbank Thanksgiving robber is an easy arrest for Stanislaus detectives

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by Ken Kiunke , January 15, 2015

The Stockton Police Department contacted Stanislaus Sheriff’s Detective Eric Torres this week to let him know that had a man in custody who had let on that he had robbed a Riverbank gas station in November. Enrique Aaron Reyes, a 26-year-old man from Union City, a city in the south east Bay Area near Hayward and Fremont, became the instant leading suspect in an armed robbery under investigation.

Reyes is accused of robbing this Shell Station at gunpoint on Thanksgiving day.

It was Thanksgiving day, November 27 at 11:30 pm when the Sheriff’s Department received a call of an armed robbery at the Shell Gas Station at 3130 Atchison Street in Riverbank, a town just north of Modesto and near Oakdale. According to the Sheriff’s Department, deputies from the Riverbank Police Department, which is just a couple of blocks around the corner from the Shell station, responded and took the statement of the employee. It was reported that a black man in his 20’s in a black coat, blue pants and blue beanie cap had come in, grabbed some merchandise and approached the register. As the clerk rang up his purchase, the man pulled a gun and demanded all the money in the register. He then fled the business.

The case remained open until the call from Stockton Police. Reyes had been arrested on January 11 on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, exhibiting a deadly weapon, threats of violence, burglary, hit-and-run with property damage, and resisting arrest. Police reported that he had attacked a man with a meat cleaver and screwdriver that Sunday morning before noon at an apartment on Blue Ridge Circle. The victim was sent to the hospital with non-life threatening wounds to his arms and hands. Reyes was arrested for the assault, along with outstanding warrants for the other charges.

Reyes had been arrested on July 22 by Hayward Police for burglary, possession of burglar’s tools, and resisting arrest. He was taken into custody at the South Hayward BART station, which is just a few miles from his Union City residence.

While being interviewed by Stockton police in the assault case, he let on information that connected him to the Riverbank robbery. Detective Torres came to the San Joaquin Jail, where he spoke to Reyes regarding that incident, and the suspect admitted to the robbery and to using a gun. Pending his incarceration in San Joaquin County, Reyes will be arrested on the armed robbery charge in Stanislaus County.

Detective Torres has requested anyone with more information to contact him at 209-863-7158. Anonymous tips may also be sent to Crime Stoppers at 209-521-4636, or via email through ModestoPolice.com/CrimeStoppers. Texts may be sent to CRIMES – 274637 by entering Tip704 and a message. Cash rewards may be available.