A 19-year-old Beaumont man was arrested Wednesday after Banning police say he used a social media watch sale as cover for an armed robbery, then got caught still wearing the stolen timepiece when detectives tracked him down in Hemet. Jonathan Portugal now faces suspicion of robbery and carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle following the alleged scheme, which began when a Banning resident advertised a watch for sale online.
According to Patch, the arrest stemmed from an armed robbery that began as an in-person watch sale arranged through social media, with the victim and suspect connecting in a social media sales group over a gold watch. Police say Portugal reached out to the seller after spotting the listing, and the two arranged to meet in person to complete the deal.
A Pool Parking Lot Deal Goes Wrong
The sale was set for roughly 2:30 p.m. Tuesday near the Atwell Community pool on Orion Way in Banning, according to the seed reporting from MyNewsLA.com. A separate account from KESQ places the robbery at around 2:33 p.m. that same day at the Atwell Community pool, a small discrepancy in the exact minute but consistent on the location and date.
Instead of paying for the watch, the prospective buyer allegedly pulled out a handgun, took the watch and refused to pay before fleeing in a vehicle, the Patch report states. The victim called 911 immediately, and Banning police opened an investigation into the robbery.
Detectives Track Suspect to Hemet
Investigators identified Jonathan Portugal as the alleged perpetrator and obtained search warrants that were served Wednesday afternoon. Banning Police detectives worked with the Riverside County District Attorney's Office Gang Impact Team to locate him, per the station's report, leading officers to a property on Westminster Place in Hemet.
Portugal was wearing the stolen watch when he was arrested, investigators noted, and the firearm allegedly used during the robbery was also recovered during the arrest, according to the same Patch account. During the warrant search, a semi-automatic pistol, a large quantity of cash and watches were found, officers said.
Booking and Unanswered Questions
Portugal was being held at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility on suspicion of robbery and carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle. Bail information was not immediately available.
Under California Penal Code § 211, robbery is defined as the felonious taking of personal property in another person's possession, from the person or their immediate presence and against their will, accomplished by force or fear, according to the California Legislative Information database. State law under Penal Code § 25400 also governs the concealed-weapon allegation Portugal faces. No further details on potential charges, a court case number or case disposition have been made public.
