Photo: Victor Bravo, Moises Garcia and Cesar Lemus
MODESTO – A “sophisticated and meticulous planned out robbery” was thwarted by alert law enforcement. It all started early on Friday morning, November 16th. Around 1:00 a.m. a deputy located a stolen Nissan Altima in an apartment parking lot.
The deputy and other members of law enforcement maintained surveillance on the stolen vehicle.
Enrique Lopez, Jesus Robledo and Robert Zavala
As officers watched the stolen Nissan, six other individuals arrived at the scene. Officers witnessed those six men apply paper pates to the vehicles and load several items into the stolen Nissan. Next, the six men got into 4 of the vehicles at the scene, including the stolen Nissan, and drove away toward McHenry avenue.
After making the drive to McHenry Avenue and Leveland Lane, four of the suspects were observed putting on masks.
The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department reports that “as this was happening, the other two men, one in a Honda Pilot and another in a Nissan Versa began driving back and forth on McHenry in front of the bank.”
Around 3:00 p.m. law enforcement moved in and detained the quartet in the Nissan –
- 25-year-old Jesus Robledo;
- 27-year-old Enrique Lopez;
- 23-year-old Victor Bravo;
- 26-year-old Moises Garcia.
Their car contained “two assault rifles, two handguns, masks and gloves.”
As this arrest was occurring, other officers arrested the other two suspects as well.
23-year-old Robert Zavala was arrested form the Honda Pilot. 19-year-old Cesar Lemus was arrested from the Nissan Bersa.
All six suspects were booked attempted robbery and criminal conspiracy. Robledo was additionally charged with felon in possession of a firearm and Bravo had an additional charge of possession of a stolen vehicle.
The SCSD adds, “Several of the arrested suspects have lengthy criminal histories including robbery, kidnapping, weapons and drug charges as well as evading and resisting police and being members of criminal street gangs.”
Detectives are “trying to determine if these suspects may have been involved in two recent takeover robberies at the Wells Fargo bank in Riverbank.” They also suspect the group of recent takeover robberies at banks in Turlock.
Finally, Sheriff-Elect Jeff Dirkse says, “This is a classic example of how a major incident can be averted by vigilant patrol deputies working with investigative units to get bad guys off the street. Detectives did an amazing job of taking down a car full of gang members armed to the teeth, just minutes before they entered the bank and put the public at risk. I couldn’t be more proud of the teamwork within the Sheriff’s Department as well as the assist from StanCATT and Modesto Police.”
