LOMA LINDA – Two suspects are scheduled for court appearances after four were arrested for armed robbery and kidnapping when they reportedly made contact on line. The four arrested are: Justus Ivory Roth, 21, of Loma Linda, and Michael Albert Del Rio, 21, of San Bernardino, along with Veronica Cante, 19, of Rancho Cucamonga, and Krystal Maldonado, 20, of Loma Linda.
Authorities said that Cante, on May 18 during the early morning hours, had lured an unidentified victim to a spot in Loma Linda. Once she got inside his car, she unlocked the victim’s back doors, allowing Roth and Del Rio to get into the backseat.
Roth reportedly produced a handgun, pointed it at the victim’s face and demanded his property. Reports are that the suspects forced the victim to drive to a store to get cash from an ATM.
While he was driving, the victim spotted a police car, jumped out to get help while the suspects fled on foot in various directions. Deputies located Cante hiding in the back yard of a nearby residence.
Witnesses, meanwhile, gave deputies a detailed description of the suspect’s car, leading to an immediate search. A deputy located their car at an apartment complex on Redlands Blvd., east of the 10400 block of Mountain View Ave., where the robbery took place. A short time after that, Roth, Del Rio and Maldonado were spotted leaving an apartment and getting into that car. Deputies and detectives detained the three suspects.
Retrieving a search warrant for the apartment, said Det. Grant Ward, the victim’s stolen property, along with a loaded handgun, were discovered. Authorities also found evidence that the suspects were involved in drug sales. The four suspects were booked at Central Detention Center in San Bernardino, held on $250,000 bail.
Investigators said they have some evidence the same suspects might have attempted a similar crime earlier that day, but the alleged victim has not yet been identified.
Del Rio has two court appearances scheduled, one on May 24 for attempted fraud with a credit card, and on May 31st to face robbery and kidnapping counts. Roth has yet to have a court appearance scheduled.
Cante, who investigators said lured the victim by using on-line communication, and Maldonado, have not been granted court dates either.
