Community Tip Leads to Arrest of Wanted Robbery Suspect

Photo: Robert Cervantes

Fresno County Sheriff Deputies have arrested the man they believe is responsible for a Selma AMPM robbery, which took place on March 24th 2019.

At 2:30 AM the suspect entered the store and approached the sales counter with a drink he appeared to want to purchase. He changed his mind however and left without the drink.

Some moments later, outside surveillance cameras captured the suspect emerging from a hiding spot and approaching a woman on her way to her car as she exited the store. In the video, he is armed with a knife and attempted to steal her car. The woman locked her car and kept possession of her keys. She then threw her recently purchased hot chocolate at him, and ran back into the store where she locked herself in the bathroom.

As the clerk was about the contact police, the suspect came into the store, jumped over the sales counter, and demanded cash. Surveillance video captured him pacing back and forth, knife in hand, threatening the employee and other customers in the store.

With a bag full of cash, the suspect ran toward an empty field. None of the victims were physically harmed.

Thanks to a tip from the community, detectives identified and picked up their suspect, 23-year old Robert Cervantes of Selma, on 04/21/2019. He is currently in custody at the Fresno County Jail. His charges include the felony robbery, and bench warrant for refusing a sobriety test while driving with a suspended license.

Photos from FCSO