Man, 18, Arrested in Restaurant Robbery
Santa Paula police have arrested a man suspected in a string of crimes over the past month, authorities said.
According to police, Octavio Maldonado, 18, was taken into custody Wednesday outside his Santa Paula home one day after a robbery at El Preferido restaurant.
Police also identified him as the prime suspect in the robbery of Los Pinos Market earlier this month.
Shortly after 10 p.m. Tuesday, a man entered the Harvard Boulevard restaurant, brandished a handgun and demanded money.
The man fled on a bicycle with an undisclosed amount of cash, police said.
Authorities said a search of Maldonado’s home turned up an assault rifle and ammunition, which they believe were stolen during a residential burglary.
Maldonado was taken to Ventura County Jail, where he remained Thursday.
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