Tips Lead to Arrest in Robbery, Carjacking Case
Fresno County Sheriff's Deputies have arrested a Kerman man wanted in connection with a robbery and carjacking.
28-year-old Ricardo Covarrubia was taken into custody at a home near Fresno's Chandler Airport. Investigators say they found him after receiving several tips from the public.
The sheriff's office says Covarrubia was involved in an armed robbery in the area of American and Butte, just south of the city of Kerman, on October 14. During the incident, Covarrubia and two other people forced a car off the road and then forced the victim into their car at gunpoint, sheriff's spokesman Chris Curtice said.
They then drove a short distance before beating and robbing the victim, Curtice said. The victim was not badly hurt.
On October 19, Covarrubia was involved in a home invasion-style robbery and burglary at a home near Kearney and Howard, deputies said. Covarrubia fired a rifle at one of the victims when he was confronted, but no one was hit, Curtice said.
Covarrubia was booked into the Fresno County Jail on charges of armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, burglary, and assault with a firearm.
Deputies say Covarrubia had stolen property when he was arrested, which may link him to several more armed robberies.
Two suspects have been arrested in connection with this case, but the sheriff's office says it's not releasing their names because the investigation is ongoing.
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