Sheriff’s deputies searching for suspect in Carpinteria armed robbery

Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Deputies are searching for an armed robbery suspect.

It crime happened at the Mi Fiesta Market and Deli on 4502 Carpinteria Avenue in Carpinteria at about 7:15 a.m. on Friday.

Surveillance footage taken from the scene showed the suspect robbed the store clerk at gunpoint. A passerby called 911 to report what they saw.

“When they arrived, they learned that a suspect had in fact held up the store at gunpoint and was last seen running westbound on Carpinteria Avenue. He was described as wearing blue sweatshirt and a dark blue pants,” said Sergeant John Maxwell, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.

The armed robber wore a mask which covered his entire face. His eyes were not visible. He also wore gloves on both hands.

According to Maxwell, the store clerk was shaken up, but no one inside the store was injured.

The clerk told NewsChannel 3 reporter Vicky Nguyen that the robber was inside for at least 2 minutes. He left when a customer walked in.

Deputies along with the K-9 unit and forensics team arrived on scene shortly after, but did not find the man after an extensive search of the area. No other information is available at this time.

The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information regarding this crime to please call 805-681-4150, or to leave an anonymous tip, please call 805-681-4171. You may also submit an anonymous tip on our website by visiting http://www.sbsheriff.org/anonymoustips.html.