After more than a year on the run from police and deputies in
five counties, a man who allegedly participated in a string of 30
armed robberies last winter was arrested in Santa Cruz.
After more than a year on the run from police and deputies in five counties, a man who allegedly participated in a string of 30 armed robberies last winter was arrested in Santa Cruz.
Juan Borjorquez, 33, was arrested by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Department on about $4 million in criminal warrants, according to jail records.
Detective Sgt. Wes Walker of the San Benito County Sheriff’s Department said Borjorquez was arrested March 12 while hiding near Soquel.
“He is currently being held in the Santa Cruz County Jail on over $4 million worth of warrants,” Walker said.
Borjorquez will eventually be transferred to jails in San Benito, San Joaquin, Santa Clara and Monterey counties where he will reportedly stand trial on armed robbery and assault charges, Walker said.
Despite having been on the run for more than a year, Borjorquez did not resist the arrest, Walker said.
“He was taken into custody without any resistance,” he said.
Investigators said they found Borjorquez with the help of a confidential informant who led them to the alleged robber.
Borjorquez, also known as Marcelino Mendoza Borjorquez, is accused of being one of five men who led law enforcement officials in five counties on a dangerous chase for nearly three months between late December 2001 and early March 2002.
The alleged group of robbers included Miguel Palofox, Edgar Zavala, Jesus Antonio Pellegrin and Ramon Enrique.
The suspects reportedly leapfrogged across five counties, robbing smaller privately owned stores. All of the robberies followed a similar pattern, occurring on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday evenings.
The men reportedly worked in two- or three-man teams allegedly robbing small grocery or produce stores.
Palofox, Zavala, Pellegrin and Enrique are awaiting prosecution in various counties for their alleged parts in the robberies.
