Fountain Valley police arrest 2 men suspected of robbery and grand theft

Fountain Valley police arrested two men last week suspected of robbing a victim at gunpoint and stealing several high-end wristwatches, authorities said.

Police responded to the 18000 block of Brookhurst at about 3:30 p.m. last Wednesday where the robbery had just occurred, according to a news release.

Later that day, police arrested the suspects — Salagi Iakopo, 21, and Tehuiarii Matautia, 20, of Carson — in Long Beach for robbery and grand theft, authorities said. Bail was set at $1 million for each suspect, said Det. Isaac Marquez.

Court records show Iakopo pleaded not guilty Monday to the second-degree robbery and denied being armed with an assault weapon or machine gun. Iakopo is being held at Theo Lacy Facility with a pretrial mandatory settlement conference scheduled Jan. 10 at the West Justice Center, jail records show.

Iakopo’s attorney, Rose Angulo, could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.

Jail records show Matautia was released from custody Monday.

This is an active investigation and no further details were provided.

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