Suspect Robbed Two Convenient Stores at Gun Point
SALINAS—Investigators with the Salinas Police Department made an arrest in two robberies that occurred on February 20th at two convenient stores on West Curtis and Williams Road in Salinas. They identified and arrested a known gang member, 20-year-old David Hernandez, as the suspect in the two cases.
The first incident happened early Thursday morning, when Hernandez entered the 7-11 store on West Curtis and stood by the counter waiting until the clerk walked behind the counter. When the clerk reached the register Hernandez leaped over the counter, pulling a dark colored semi-auto handgun from his sweatshirt.
First stop – the 7-11 at Curtis and Main Street.
The clerk remembers him saying, “give me the your money, fool.” When he complied with Hernandez and began to open the register, Hernandez struck him in the head with the gun, basically ‘pistol whipping’ him. The clerk suffered a severe laceration to the head and was knocked out as a result of Hernandez’s actions.
Hernandez then grab an undisclosed amount of money from the register and fled the store running down West Curtis Street.
The second incident occurred about 20 minutes later, when Hernandez ordered a clerk from the Quick Stop Store on Williams Road back into the store. Once inside the store Hernandez using the same ‘M.O’ (Method of Operation) jumped over the counter and order the clerk to open the register. The clerk opened the register and was “pistol whipped” by Hernandez.
Hernandez took an undisclosed amount of money from that register and was seen running into the alley behind the store. Investigators with the Salinas Police Department were able to identify Hernandez as their suspect.
Next stop – Quick Stop on Williams Road.
“We had cooperative victims in this incident and he was identified through booking photos as the suspect in the case.” Salinas Police Sergeant James Arensdorf said.
Hernandez was arrested on Monday afternoon without incident and was booked into the Monterey County Jail on charges of robbery. His bail his been set at a half a million dollars. Hernandez is a known gang member to the Salinas Police.
