Santa Barbara police arrest 2 suspects involved in customer robbery at Ross in December
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Santa Barbara police made two arrests since the robbery of a customer at a Ross Dress for Less store in December.
The Santa Barbara Police Department responded to reports of a robbery at the Ross on State Street on Friday, December 27, 2019.
During the incident, a female customer had allegedly had her wallet stolen from her while attempting to pay at a register. The woman attempted to chase the thief, but he struck her on the head as he ran.
Police said the suspect joined multiple other suspects in a getaway car which drove out of the area and was later found abandoned at the Chick-fil-A on State Street.
Since then, Santa Barbara Police Detectives conducted an investigation and pursued various leads.
Police said, on February 12, the detectives successfully arrested 21-year-old Ahdarah Garcia-Rasay for accessory to robbery.
A warrant was then sought and issued for 19-year-old Paul Catono Murray.
Police said the evidence they collected suggested Murray was the principal aggressor in the robbery. Detectives determined he had fled Santa Barbara shortly after the incident.
On May 7, police said Murray was arrested by law enforcement while in Stockton, Calif. He was arrested on the warrant for this robbery as well as the additional charge of resisting arrest.
He was extradited to Santa Barbara and booked in Santa Barbara County Jail with charges for robbery, committing a felony while out on bail and battery.
