“The store employee,” said Varner, “was not injured during the incident.”
Garcia, who was booked into Ventura County Main Jail, has had numerous contacts with police.
Circle K attempted robbery, assault
suspect arrested
May 23, 2014
Santa Paula News
A Santa Paula man with a history of police contacts was arrested early Tuesday morning after he allegedly attempted to rob a 24-hour convenience store and assault a clerk who managed to lock the suspect out.
According to Sgt. Scott Varner, May 20 at about 1:20 a.m. SPPD Officers responded to Circle K, located at 765 W. Harvard Blvd., regarding a call of a subject “banging” on the windows.
Varner noted dispatch was able to determine from the store employee that reported the incident that the suspect had demanded money and attempted to strike the employee with an object. The employee was able to get the suspect outside and then lock the doors to the business before calling police, as the suspect banged on the windows.
When police arrived at the scene the suspect had fled and they began checking the area.
Ernesto Reyes Garcia, 24, of Santa Paula, was located nearby and matched the description of the suspect provided by the store employee. Varner said when Garcia was positively identified as the suspect he was placed under arrest for suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and attempted robbery.
