Update to String of Armed Robberies Targeting Tulare County Dairies
Photo: Ismael Cervantes (l) and Augustine Chavez
Originally published as a Tulare County Sheriff’s Office press release –
“Just before 9 p.m. Wednesday, TCSO Deputies were called to the Little Rock Dairy in the 13000 Block of Road 80 in Tipton for an armed robbery.
When Deputies arrived, they were told that four men walked up to four workers at the dairy and demanded their personal belongings. Two of the suspects were armed. The victims gave them their cell phones and wallets and the suspects took off.
Just six minutes later, at the Golden State Dairy in the 11000 Block of Road 112 in Pixley, Deputies received a report of another armed robbery matching the description of the previous one in Tipton. Two workers at that dairy had just been robbed at gunpoint by four men.
The suspects continued their crime spree. And, about 30 minutes later, three workers at a dairy in the 12000 Block of Ave 200 in Tulare were robbed at gunpoint. This time, all of the suspects were armed, two with handguns and two with long guns. After robbing the victims, they then stole one of their cars, a white CRV, and took off.
Less than 30 minutes after that, a fourth armed robbery occurred at Mendonca Farms in the 12000 Block of Ave 160 in Tipton. During this robbery, three suspects, one armed with a gun, approached one worker and demanded his personal property and cash.
A short time later, three workers were robbed at the Dick Vanderham & Sons Dairy in the 12000 Block of Ave 152 in Tipton. Two suspects, one armed with a handgun, walked up to the victims and demanded their wallets and cell phones. They took off in the white Honda CRV they stole from an earlier victim.
Just after 10 p.m., Law enforcement officers tracked down the Honda CRV that was carjacked during one of the robberies on Hwy 99 and Ave 24. Officers tried to stop the car, the driver refused. There was a short chase, but the driver eventually stopped in the area of Ave 80 an Rd 140 and the suspects ran off into an orchard.
As Deputies chased the suspects, at least one of them shot at Deputies and Deputies shot back. No one was hurt. Deputies arrested 24-year-old Augustine Chavez, 18-year-old Ismael Cervantez, both of Pixley, as well as a 15 and 16-year-old boy. They face charges of 5 counts of robbery, attempted murder of a police officer and conspiracy to commit a felony.”
Update to String of Armed Robberies Targeting Tulare County Dairies was last modified: January 5th, 2023 by
Categories:
Tulare
