7 arrested in Tulare County operation targeting armed robbery, vehicle theft

TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Seven people were arrested following a multi-agency operation targeting armed robbery and vehicle theft in Visalia, the Visalia Police Department said.

Police say a series of armed robberies and carjackings have occurred in Porterville and Visalia in the past two months. On Wednesday morning, a joint operation between the Visalia and Porterville police departments resulted in the arrest of all people involved in the crime spree.

According to police, on Jan. 26, the California Highway Patrol responded to the 3100 block of Florence Avenue regarding the theft of a silver Kia Optima. Days later, on Jan. 28 at 12:42 am., Lindsay officers responded to an attempted armed robbery at the AM/PM at 951 W. Hermosa St.

Police say it was determined that multiple suspects arrived in a stolen Kia Optima and attempted to rob an unhoused person in the parking lot before entering the store to commit armed robbery. The store clerk saw the suspects on camera and hid inside the businesses. The suspects fled the scene in the same vehicle.

About an hour later, at 1:05 a.m., Porterville PD said they responded to an armed robbery at the Sunrise Handy Market at 415 W. Poplar Ave. Three armed suspects entered the business after arriving in a stolen Kia Optima and stole alcohol and several hundred dollars in cash while holding clerks at gunpoint.

On Feb. 8, Visalia officers say they responded to an armed robbery at the 7-Eleven at 1201 S. Mooney Blvd at 3:16 a.m. Two armed suspects entered the business and demanded money from the clerk. They fled with over a hundred dollars in cash. Hours later, at 3:41 p.m., officers responded to a carjacking at the Arco at 419 W. Caldwell Ave., in which two armed suspects approached the victim and told him to get out of the car, a white Ford Fusion. The suspects got into the victim’s car and fled the scene.

On Feb. 9, at 4:41 p.m., officials report that Lindsay officers responded to an armed robbery at Day & Nite Liquor at 858 E. Tulare Rd. Multiple suspects had entered the business and stole currency and liquor while holding the clerk at gunpoint. Officers say the suspects arrived in a stolen Ford Fusion from Visalia and fled the scene in the same vehicle.

On Feb. 11, investigators say the Porterville Police Department responded to an armed robbery at Family Store at 391 W. Belleview Ave. The store clerk reported two armed suspects entered the business and demanded money from the clerk. They later fled with hundreds of dollars in cash and tobacco products in the Ford Fusion previously carjacked from Visalia.

Six minutes later, police say Porterville officers responded to a second armed robbery at Joe’s Westside Market at 22388 Ave. 152. Two armed suspects entered the business and demanded money from the clerk. They then fled with hundreds of dollars in cash, tobacco products and alcohol.

As a result, the Visalia Police Department says the suspects arrested in connection with these robberies are 18-year-old Isaiah Gonzales, a 15-year-old and a 14-year-old, 19-year-old Frankie Vallejo, a 17-year-old juvenile, 18-year-old Lazarrus Nanez and 19-year-old Sebastian Luna.