NORTH SHORE- A gang member was arrested on Friday in an ongoing investigation regarding a violent robbery that occurred earlier this month.
On March 13 Reyes Market, located in the 98000 block of Ave 70 in North Shore (a community near the Salton Sea) was robbed. During the robbery, a store employee sustained major injuries and was hospitalized.
Rafael Isias Murua
The Southern Coachella Valley Community Services District Team initiated an investigation into the crime, identifying suspects. Search warrants were served at three separate North Shore locations in connection with the investigation.
The first suspect was arrested in the 101000 block of Sea Breeze Drive on Thursday March 26, 2015. Jacob Lee Couie, 21 of North Shore, was arrested and booked into the Riverside County jail in Indio for attempted homicide and armed robbery. The suspect’s bail was set at $1,000,000.
A second arrest occurred on Friday March 27, 2015 around 1:00 AM. The search warrant was served in the 72000 block of Fantail Drive, North Shore. According to Sergeant Tim White the suspect, Rafael Isais Murua, age 27 and documented Mecca gang member was taken into custody without incident. Murua was arrested twice last year, on August 13 and April 16 for drug-related offenses.
During the arrest and search, evidence linking Murua to the robbery was recovered. Murua was booked into the Indio Jail for armed-robbery, conspiracy to commit armed-robbery, accessory-after-the-fact, and two felony counts of violating the terms of his Post Release Community Supervision.
The Southern Coachella Valley Community Services District Team is actively pursuing leads in connection with the robbery investigation. Four search warrants have been served so far.
Anyone with information regarding the investigation is encouraged to contact Deputy James Knudson of the Sheriff’s Thermal Station at (760) 863-8990, or Valley Crime Stoppers at (760) 341- STOP (7867).
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Desert Sun: Second arrest made in market robbery
KESQ: Mecca gang member arrested for armed robbery
