Edward Garafalo and Luis Guerrero
WALNUT CREEK – Two armed-robbery suspects were arrested by police after allegedly attempting to steal construction equipment from the downtown Walnut Creek Marriot hotel on September 27.
A hotel employee confronted the men on Tuesday inside the hotel garage at 11:42 a.m. Both suspects fled from the scene at 2155 N. Main Street to the nearby Route 680 freeway, after brandishing guns at the employee, according to Walnut Creek police.
The suspects spotted by officers on the freeway, one holding a gun, then jumped over a wall near the intersection of Riviera and Pringle Avenues, police said.
Witnesses told police that the men ran into a garage at 100 Pringle Street and police set up a perimeter, but within minutes both suspects fled again. Then, after a brief foot chase, police then apprehended and recovered firearms from them. No shots were fired.
Police arrested Martinez resident Luis J. Guerrero, 35 and Edward J. Garofalo, 28, of Fairfield. Both were taken to the Martinez Detention Facility.
Guerrero and Garofalo were each charged with assault with deadly weapon, brandishing a firearm, felony possession of a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon, carrying a loaded firearm in a public place and conspiracy to commit a crime.
In addition, Garofalo was charged with brandishing a firearm in presence of a police officer and possession of stolen property. Guerrero also had an outstanding warrant for violating terms of post release community supervision. Bail was set at $300,000 for Garofalo and $250,000 for Guerrero.
