3 Arrested, 1 Sought in Robbery at Liquor Store

Authorities arrested three suspects and were searching for a fourth after the robbery of a Santa Paula liquor store Saturday night.

Four robbers held up OK Liquor Store, 717 W. Harvard Blvd., about 9:30 p.m., using a weapon resembling a machine gun.

The thieves fled in a white Chevrolet Camaro. Sheriff’s deputies spotted a car matching that description with four males inside about 15 minutes later, driving west on Telegraph Road.

The deputies chased the car, reaching speeds of up to 90 mph. At Telegraph and Wells roads, the driver ran a red light, and the car rear-ended a Ford Bronco driven by an unidentified 20-year-old woman. The Bronco was pushed 100 feet into a guardrail and was spun around 180 degrees.

The woman, who had been attempting to turn from northbound Wells Road onto westbound Telegraph Road, was taken to Community Memorial Hospital with moderate injuries.

As the deputies who had been chasing the Camaro arrived, one suspect got out of the car and fled into a nearby neighborhood, prompting an air and ground search. He remained at large Sunday afternoon, and authorities did not provide a description.

The three other suspects, Heron Manuel Cardinas, Carlos E. Ruelas, both 21-year-olds from Oxnard, and a 15-year-old male, were arrested without incident and taken to Ventura County Medical Center.

Ruelas was treated and then booked into Ventura County Jail, where he was being held on suspicion of robbery and evading arrest, with bail set at $50,000. The youth suffered minor injuries and was taken to Juvenile Hall after treatment.

Cardinas remained under guard at Ventura County Medical Center on Sunday afternoon. His condition was not released.