Santa Maria Man Surrenders in Gas Station Robbery

Santa Maria Police say they have arrested a man in connection with a recent gas station robbery that was all captured by a security camera.

It happened early last Thursday morning at the Main Street Shell station in Santa Maria which had just opened for business at 5:00am.

The surveillance video shows the robbery suspect, identified by Santa Maria Police as 29 year old Richard Ernest Martinez, walk into the tiny convenience store and cashier area and then punch the gas station owner Clark Crandall in the face.

Crandall briefly fights back but then takes out the cash drawer from the register and the suspect is seen grabbing the cash and walking out the door.

Crandall suffered severe bruising and concussion-like injuries in the attack, believed to be a first at the popular gas station at Main Street and Highway 101, one of the last, true full-service stations on the Central Coast.

“I really don’t know what to say, its really sad that it happened to such a nice guy like that”, said Main Street Shell customer Hertz Ramirez.

Clark Crandall is well known in the local community for using his gas station to help raise more than $200,000 over the years to help find a cure to the debilitating genetic bone disorder FOP.

Santa Maria Police say Richard Martinez turned himself in Tuesday afternoon.