Police Are Looking For Three Hispanic Adults
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Police Department believe that the three incidents that occurred Sunday night might be related. Police are looking for three Hispanic male adults who they say robbed a fruit vendor by gunpoint.
The first Incident occurred at ten minutes after five in the evening when two Hispanic men approached the victim and attempted to buy some fruit that he was selling on Rodriguez Street, near Radcliff Elementary School. A third man came up to him wielding a silver and black semi-automatic handgun and pointed it to his chest. He demanded that the victim hand over all his money. The victim, fearing for his life, emptied his pocket and gave the suspect about $150.00. The suspects then fled the area on foot, all in different directions.
The second incident occurred about 7:48 Sunday evening, when Watsonville Police were dispatched to Silverleaf Drive on a report of an attempted carjacking. The victim reported that she approached by a Hispanic male adult who demanded her vehicle. He was wielding a large caliber firearm. The victim, fearing for her life begged the suspect not to harm her. He reportedly became very nervous and left the area on foot, leaving the victim unharmed and no property was taken.
About ten minutes later Watsonville police were dispatched to Herman Avenue, which is a few blocks away from Silverleaf Drive, on a report of a vehicle theft. The description of the suspect matched that of the man in the attempted carjacking from ten minutes earlier. The driver of the stolen car reportedly hit a parked car while fleeing.
An armed robber targeted this Little Caesar’s Pizza on Freedom Blvd.
The third incident then occurred at the Little Caesar’s Pizza on Freedom Boulevard. A male suspect entered the store and approached the employees behind the counter and produced a black semi-automatic handgun. He demanded money from the registers. The suspect also demanded the money from the safe, but before he could get his hands on it one of the employees activated the alarm, and that sound caused the suspect to flee the scene.
Then at about 10:18 pm, Watsonville Police responded to the area of California Street and Hill Avenue for a report of a hit and run involving the same stolen car from Herman Avenue. After an extensive search Watsonville Police located the suspect in the area of Jasmine Lane and Camellia Court. The suspect ignored police commands to stop the vehicle and sped away. Officers pursued him, and as the suspect drove off, he collided with several parked cars and narrowly missed hitting a Watsonville Police Officer.
Officers continued the pursuit onto Freedom Boulevard. The suspect continued to drive erratically, at one point hitting a taxi, until he came across a stubborn trash container behind a grocery store that ended the pursuit. The 17-year-old suspect was positively identified by both victims and arrested. Police are investigating possible connections the juvenile may have had with the Little Caesar’s robbery and fruit vendor hold-up.
