Suspect Linked to Two Armed Robberies

Two holdups have been linked to the same suspect according to investigators with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department.Lt. Butch Arnoldi says Sunday night just before midnight, the male suspect entered the Turnpike Shell store and purchased small items.When the clerk opened the register, the suspect reportedly pulled out a “chrome revolver from his waistband and asked her for the money.”The suspect left to the east of the building and apparently headed towards the freeway in a sedan.About 40 minutes later the AM/PM in Carpinteria was also held up by a man with a gun that fit the same description. Arnoldi said deputies responded to both locations and also searched for a suspect vehicle on Highway 101.Video cameras were able to get a picture of the suspect.He is described as an Hispanic male with a mustache, about 6 feet tall, in his 20s or 30s, and and wearing a jacket and hoodie together with the word “security” on the back.KEY News Senior Reporter John Palminteri has the story.