San Benito County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a suspected gang
member Saturday believed to have robbed two local convenience
stores at knife-point last week.
Hollister – San Benito County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a suspected gang member Saturday believed to have robbed two local convenience stores at knife-point last week.
Deputies arrested Hollister resident Jorge Arias, 19, for two felony counts of armed robbery after he allegedly held up the Beacon gas station on San Juan Road and the Quick Stop gas station last week, Undersheriff Pat Turturici said Tuesday.
“We found another dangerous gang member and took him off the streets,” Sheriff Curtis Hill said. “To me this is an important arrest – we’re sending a message that if you get involved in gang activity, you will end up in jail or prison.”
While sheriff’s deputies made the collar, it was a joint law enforcement effort that put Arias behind bars. Arias allegedly held up the Beacon gas station last Tuesday shortly before 9pm, Hollister Police Capt. Richard Vasquez said. Police said Arias entered the gas station and forced the clerk to open the cash register at knife point. Arias took an undisclosed amount of money and fled the gas station on foot, according to police. After reviewing a surveillance video, police identified the suspect as Arias, Vasquez said.
Four days later, police believe Arias tried to hold up the Quick Stop but failed, Vasquez said. In that instance, Vasquez said Arias tried to force the clerk to open the cash register at knife point, but the clerk refused and he fled the store. Based on witness descriptions and surveillance video, police believe Arias was the culprit, Vasquez said.
“We’re just lucky nobody got hurt and (Arias) was arrested,” he said. “Anytime someone enters a store with a weapon it’s a scary situation.”
Turturici said Arias is a known member of the Norteno criminal street gang.
While the Hollister Police Department was conducting its investigation of the robberies, it was a routine traffic stop Saturday that landed Arias in jail.
Two sheriff’s deputies spotted a car on Central Avenue near Gonzales Street with expired registration tags, and contacted the occupants of the vehicle. Deputies had been advised to be on the look-out for Arias and arrested him. Arias was also arrested for misdemeanor false representation to a peace officer and possession of drug paraphernalia because he initially lied to deputies about his identity and had a glass pipe typically used for smoking methamphetamine in his pocket, Turturici said.
