MARTINEZ — A 27-year-old man has been charged with four felonies for allegedly participating in a robbery where masked gunmen pistol-whipped one of the two victims, court records show.
The Richmond man was arraigned Wednesday and pleaded not guilty, according to court records. He has been released on bail, according to court records.
The Oct. 16 robbery occurred around 8 p.m. at the Crockett Fuel and Market on the 1200 block of Pomona Street. The two victims, a married couple, had just finished a date night at the Dead Fish restaurant and were getting gas when a Dodge Challenger pulled up beside them and two masked gunmen got out.
One of the robbers ordered the man to hand over his wallet and cellphone, and struck him multiple times with the pistol. While the man was being assaulted with the gun, his wife handed over her cellphone and purse, police say. The victims were reportedly told not to call police until after the robbers left.
The suspect was identified through video surveillance, license plate readers, and after the same Dodge Challenger was seen at a similar robbery in San Pablo the following day, police say. Authorities are still working to arrest the second suspected robber.
Contra Costa prosecutors charged the 27-year-old man with four counts of second degree robbery on Jan. 16, records show.
Source: www.mercurynews.com