SAN BERNARDINO – Police arrested a robbery suspect on Wednesday, reportedly linking him to a series of robberies that took place over two counties and six cities.
Mark Anthony Toney, 26, from the Riverside county city of Hemet, was on active probation for being an ex-felon for being in possession of a firearm.
Police said they have linked Toney to a string of armed robberies in San Bernardino, Redlands, Rialto and Rancho Cucamonga – each in San Bernardino County – along with a pair of Los Angeles County cities, Montclair and Pomona.
The robberies took place in January and February, police said. There are times, said investigators, when Toney entered some businesses with intent to commit a robbery and sometimes departed without taking anything,
Toney, who is reported to have targeted primarily fast food restaurants and gas stations, either displayed or pointed the gun at victims during the crimes. He usually wore a red hoodie sweatshirt, police said.
Lt. Rich Lawhead said the San Bernardino Police Department’s robbery detectives, working with the Crime Analysis Unit, developed information which led to Toney’s identification.
Detectives located Toney, taking him into custody in the 4000 block of East Highland Ave. in San Bernardino. Reportedly, he has confessed to some of the crimes.
Lawhead said, “Investigators located evidence from many of the crimes during the arrest and a subsequent search of a local residence.”
More charges are expected, said Lawhead, and Toney has been charged with 10 separate counts of armed robbery. He’s being held at the Central Detention Center in San Bernardino.
Toney was tentatively scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Friday, said Lawhead. His bail was set at $100,000.
Read More:
Press Enterprise: Arrest made in string of robberies
CBSLA: Suspected ‘red hood bandit’ arrested
