Three suspects from the Bay Area were recently arrested in Auburn, with a fourth suspect being sought, for reportedly stealing about $6,000 worth of baby formula and other items in a crime spree that ranged from the Bay Area to Reno, according to an official press release issued by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office.
Damon Yon Marcus Nash, 24, of Hayward; Charday Mariah Monique Brown, 18, of Hayward; and Torryiel Gayla Griggs, 20, of Oakland were reportedly arrested and booked into the Placer County Jail on charges of commercial burglary and conspiracy. Griggs also had a burglary warrant from Alameda County. Detectives are currently searching for the fourth suspect.
The trio targeted the Bel Air Market in Auburn for baby formula.
According to Placer County Sheriff, on Wednesday, August 20 at 6:50 pm, two women and two men reportedly entered the north Auburn Bel Air store on Highway 49, and were observed filling duffel bags with baby formula. As a store employee attempted to stop them, one male suspect reportedly ran out of the front doors with a bag of stolen merchandise, while the other suspects dumped the merchandise they had in various aisles and fled the store to a blue sedan.
Two employees chased the first male suspect, but stopped when he crossed over Highway 49. The first male suspect reportedly dropped his duffel bag of formula, which was recovered.
Placer County deputies reportedly swarmed the area, and helpful citizens pointed them to the blue sedan, which was a rental car, parked behind a building on Kemper Road directly across the highway from the store. A deputy reportedly observed the two female suspects running from the car and quickly detained them. The second male suspect reportedly ran in a different direction.
Baby formula and tequila were among the items stolen
Despite setting a perimeter and assistance from CHP air support and a K9 search, deputies were initially unable to find neither of the two male suspects. However, about two hours later, one of the male suspects — later identified as Nash — was seen walking along Highway 49 near Live Oak Lane, and was reportedly taken into custody without incident.
According to Placer County Sheriff, the suspect’s vehicle contained 160 stolen items totaling about $6,000. The majority of the stolen haul was large containers of baby formula, but detectives also reportedly found quantities of Prilosec medication, Sensodyne toothpaste, and large bottles of tequila. Detectives reportedly determined the stolen items were taken from various grocery stores from the Bay Area all the way to Reno.
