Three men are behind bars after Long Beach police say they forced their way into a downtown home Tuesday morning and robbed the person inside at knifepoint. Officers quickly tracked a getaway car to Pacific Avenue just north of 10th Street, where they arrested all three suspects inside the vehicle. Jail records show each man is being held on $100,000 bail as detectives continue to dig into the case.
Robbery reported around 9 a.m.
According to Long Beach Post, the robbery was reported at about 9 a.m. on Medio Street, just north of the intersection of East Ocean Boulevard and Alamitos Avenue. Investigators told the outlet that multiple people forced their way into the residence and that one intruder was armed with a knife before the group took off in a vehicle.
Suspects identified and booked
Jail records identified the arrestees as 31-year-old Alfredo Santana Tellez, 38-year-old Samuel Fernando Vallez and 41-year-old Anthony Ray Rojas, according to Long Beach Post. Investigators determined that several people "forcibly entered" the home, and each man was booked on suspicion of robbery and conspiracy to commit a crime. All three were being held on $100,000 bail.
Charges and what they mean
The men were booked on suspicion of robbery and conspiracy to commit a crime, offenses that can carry felony penalties in California. Robbery is defined as taking property from another person by force or fear under Penal Code section 211, while conspiracy under Penal Code section 182 involves an agreement to commit a crime and can be prosecuted as a felony when the underlying offense is a felony. See Penal Code §211 and §182 for the statutory language.
Local context
The arrests come amid a steady drumbeat of police activity in downtown Long Beach. A separate armed-robbery incident and arrest were reported in early January, as noted in a Hoodline report on a teen arrested for armed robbery and gunfire. Detectives say rapid follow-up work, vehicle tracking and surveillance footage have been central to several recent arrests in the area.
How to report tips
Anyone with information about this robbery is asked to contact the Long Beach Police Department Robbery Detail at (562) 570-7464 or police dispatch at (562) 435-6711. Additional contact information and non-emergency reporting options are listed on the city's police contact page.
