Armed Robbery and Attempted Robbery Lead to Arrest of Two Porterville Residents Following Vehicle Pursuit
PORTERVILLE, CA —
“Incident:
Robbery
Attempted Robbery
Conspiracy
Felony Evading
Date/Time:
July 8, 2025 / 12:28 A.M.
Locations:
Sunrise Handy Market, 415 West Poplar Avenue, Porterville
The Home Depot, 750 South Jaye Street, Porterville
Suspect:
Cody Smith, 32-Year-Old Porterville Resident
Julian Garcia, 33-Year-Old Porterville Resident
On July 8, 2025 at 12:28 A.M., Porterville Police Officers were dispatched to the Sunrise Handy Market, located at 415 West Poplar Avenue, regarding a robbery that just occurred. Around the same time, Officers were also dispatched to The Home Depot, located at 750 South Jaye Street, regarding suspicious circumstances.
Officers contacted employees at Sunrise Handy Market and learned that a male dressed in dark clothing, gloves, and a mask entered the store and brandished a firearm. After the suspect demanded money, the employees complied and gave the suspect money from the register. The suspect exited the store and entered a silver-colored sedan, which was driven by another male. The suspects fled the scene before the arrival of Officers.
As the armed robbery at Sunrise Handy Market was being investigated, additional Officers responded to The Home Depot to investigate the report of suspicious circumstances. Employees with The Home Depot reported that a male subject dressed in dark clothing, gloves, and a mask had earlier knocked at the exterior doors of the business and told employees to open the door. Due to the business being closed, as well as the clothing the suspect was wearing, the employees did not open the doors and instead called the police. Officers determined the suspect fled The Home Depot in a silver-colored sedan and then drove to Sunrise Handy Market, where the armed robbery occurred.
During further investigation, Officers were able to identify the suspect vehicle based upon a review of surveillance footage. Officers later located the suspect vehicle parked and unoccupied in the 800 Block of West Kanai Avenue. Porterville Police Detectives were summoned to assume the investigation.
At approximately 0810 hours, Detectives observed two males enter the suspect vehicle and drive away. Detectives initiated a high-risk stop on the suspect vehicle, but the driver did not yield and fled in a reckless manner. After a short vehicle pursuit, the driver stopped the suspect vehicle in the In Shape Health Club parking lot, where both occupants exited the vehicle fled on foot. Detectives and Officers quickly converged in the area and detained both subjects without further incident.
The driver of the suspect vehicle was identified as 32-year-old Porterville resident Cody Smith. Detectives and Evidence Technicians conducted a search of the suspect vehicle and recovered evidence which linked Smith to the armed robbery at Sunrise Handy Market and the attempted robbery at The Home Depot.
Detectives continued this investigation throughout the day, executing search warrants at residences associated with Smith and pursuing all available investigative leads. As the investigation progressed, Detectives identified the second suspect as 33-year-old Porterville resident Julian Garcia.
Thereafter, Detectives located and apprehended Garcia at a residence in the 27000 Block of Avenue 146. Detectives obtained and executed a search warrant at the residence, where they located evidence which linked Garcia to this investigation.
Ultimately, Cody Smith was booked at the TCSO South County Detention Facility on charges of Robbery, Attempted Robbery, Conspiracy, and Felony Evading. Smith is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Julian Garcia was booked at the TCSO South County Detention Facility on charges of Robbery, Attempted Robbery, and Conspiracy. Garcia’s bail was set at $37,500.
This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact the Porterville Police Department at (559) 782-7400 or through our departmental Facebook or Instagram page. Those who have information may also provide it anonymously.”
