Irvine detectives say they have arrested three people after a woman was assaulted and robbed near the intersection of Alton Parkway and Culver Drive, police announced on Tuesday. According to investigators, the suspects used a car to block the woman’s vehicle, opened her door and punched her in the face before taking a backpack that held about $5,000 in cash she had just withdrawn from a nearby bank. Detectives say the arrests followed follow-up work in an investigation where they had already been watching the suspects. The investigation is ongoing and the suspects remain presumed innocent.
According to the Irvine Police Department, detectives arrested 22-year-old Raul Santino Lopez of El Sobrante and 21-year-old Michael Anthony Goodwin of San Ramon on suspicion of robbery and conspiracy, and 22-year-old Keyon Maceo Johnson of Oakland on suspicion of conspiracy. The department’s post states that detectives had been surveilling the suspects near the bank when they moved in to make the arrests and notes that the investigation remains active. The post lists the suspects’ names, ages and hometowns.
Legal context
Under California law, robbery is statutorily defined as the “felonious taking” of property from someone’s person or immediate presence by means of force or fear, making it a felony under California Penal Code section 211, according to California Legislative Information. Conspiracy, the other charge detectives cited, punishes agreements to commit crimes and can be punished in line with the underlying offense, per California Penal Code section 182, as described by California Legislative Information. How prosecutors ultimately charge any defendants will depend on the evidence investigators present.
Detectives say surveillance led to arrests
Investigators say they had already been watching the suspects near the bank and moved in after the reported attack, leading to the arrests, according to the Irvine Police Department’s Facebook post. The post says the woman had just left a bank when suspects allegedly blocked her vehicle, opened a door, assaulted her and stole a backpack containing roughly $5,000 in cash. Detectives did not immediately say whether the cash was recovered or whether the suspects have been booked into custody.
Police ask anyone with information to contact the Irvine Police Department. The city lists the department’s non-emergency line as 949-724-7000 for tips and advises callers to use 911 for emergencies, per the City of Irvine. The department says the investigation remains active.
