CLEARLAKE ? Two men and a teen boy were arrested Friday in connection to an alleged armed robbery that occurred at Foods, Etc. grocery store earlier that morning. Dalton Vaher, 19 and Carl Green, 23, both of Clearlake, were arrested and booked on charges of armed robbery and conspiracy to commit a crime. A third suspect, identified as a boy, 17, was also arrested on multiple charges related to the robbery.
A large portion of the money stolen in the robbery was recovered.
According to Clearlake Police Lt. Mike Hermann, at approximately 2 a.m. Friday, Foods, Etc. Night Manager David Santana was preparing for a scheduled delivery and as he opened the rear loading door, two male suspects wearing dark clothing and partial masks immediately ran inside toward him and pushed him back. One of the suspects was allegedly armed with a handgun, which was later identified as a .380 semi-automatic pistol.
At one point the suspect with the handgun, believed to be the juvenile male, struck Santana over the head with it while threatening to kill him if he did not cooperate. The suspects allegedly forced Santana, at gunpoint, to an undisclosed location in the store where they retrieved a key to the safe and opened it. Both suspects took an undisclosed amount of cash from the safe and left the store shortly after, Hermann said.
A silent alarm was initiated. Clearlake Police officers responded to the scene and began the initial investigation, which was later assumed by officers of the department”s Crime Suppression Unit (CSU). CSU officers Sgt. Tim Celli and Officer Mike Ray immediately began identifying people of interest including Vaher, who they determined to be a former employee of Foods, Etc.
Vaher, who is listed on his booking as unemployed, was eventually located and questioned. CSU officers determined that Vaher helped plan and commit the crime, allegedly providing specific information about the store”s procedures to Green and the teen. According to Lt. Hermann, Green entered the store directly behind the armed teen and assisted with controlling Santana once inside. After arresting the suspects, a search warrant was obtained for the Robinson Avenue residence where Vaher and Green both live. In addition, a search was also conducted at the Clearlake residence of the teen. “As a result of the searches, both of the residences and the suspects themselves, St. Celli and Officer Ray were able to recover a large portion of the stolen money in addition to identifying how the remainder of the money was spent,” Lt. Hermann said. Lt. Hermann also said that clothing items and the handgun used during the robbery were recovered.
Vaher and Green, whose employment is listed as “home care,” were booked into Lake County Jail for armed robbery and conspiracy to commit a crime. The teen was transported to Lake County Juvenile Hall where he was charged with armed robbery, conspiracy to commit a crime, assault with a deadly weapon and for being armed during the commission of a crime.
Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is asked to contact Sgt. Tim Celli at 994-8251.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
