3 arrested in connection to 3 Modesto armed robberies | Crime

MODESTO, CA - Modesto police say they arrested three men for an armed market robbery Monday night and believe the trio are connected to two other similar crimes committed the same evening.

Police officers stopped a black Volvo at about 9:12 p.m in the area of Carpenter and Hatch roads that matched a car description of the vehicle involved in an armed robbery at Millennium Food and Liquor in the 500 block of Sycamore about four hours earlier, according to police spokesman Ivan Valencia. In the crime, two individuals entered the store and robbed the store clerk. One of the robbers wore a bandana and brandished a handgun, according to a witness. The witness also noted the robbers left the store in a black Volvo.

Less than 15 minutes later, an armed robbery was reported at Golden West Market on the 2600 block of Paradise Road. Then at 8:33 p.m., another robbery was called in at Viva Market in the 1300 block of Paradise Road. Witnesses offered similar descriptions of the robbers in all three crimes, Valencia said.

The Paradise Road crimes were committed in the jurisdiction of the Stanislaus County sheriff's department.

The three men arrested were identified as Raul Valencia, 22; Antonio Valencia, 21 years; and Patricio Sandoval, 18, all from Modesto. Valencia said they three face robbery and conspiracy accusations.