Suspect Sought in 8 Robberies, 2 Rapes

Police are searching for a 26-year-old man who is among five suspects in a string of robberies in which at least two female employees have been raped, authorities announced Thursday.

Four men were arrested last week in connection with eight holdups in five cities.

At least three armed culprits robbed restaurants during opening or closing hours, Sgt. Steve Matson said.

The fifth suspect, Salvador Rendon Santamaria, has not been captured. Santamaria’s last known address was in Anaheim, but police said he has also been seen in Costa Mesa.

Santamaria, who may be armed, was described as Latino, 5 feet, 7 inches tall, weighing about 135 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

The latest target in the crime spree that began in October was Fullerton’s National Sports Bar, where the men tied up the employees and robbed the restaurant.

Before fleeing, at least one of the assailants raped a woman working at the business.

Another woman was sexually assaulted during a robbery at Coco’s Bakery Restaurant in Corona del Mar Dec. 13, detectives said.

Fullerton police began surveillance on a former employee of Coco’s Bakery Restaurant who was seen loitering outside the Newport Beach establishment in the early morning hours three days before the place was robbed, Matson said.

On April 23, after about a month of surveillance, police arrested the former Coco’s employee, Roman Perez Barba, 24, of Anaheim, and Salvador Albarran Valdivia, 26, Apolinar Lopez Maya, 24, and Omar Adamecastro, 22, all of Costa Mesa.

Maya and Adamecastro had been working at Chimayo, another Newport Beach restaurant that was robbed.

The men are being held on suspicion of armed robbery and are scheduled for arraignment Friday.

Police are asking anyone with information about Santamaria to call (714) 738-6358 or (714) 738-6715.