Jamie Saponguerra,Jose Barragan Arrested; – Authorities apprehended two men and three boys from Compton following two robberies that occurred in Seal Beach within a span of just over an hour on Tuesday.
At approximately 2:09 p.m., officers were dispatched to Bay Liquor, located at the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Seal Beach Boulevard, in response to a robbery report. It was reported that two cases of beer were stolen shortly before the five suspects fled the scene in a silver Honda Odyssey minivan, as stated by the Seal Beach Police Department.
Subsequently, at 3:15 p.m., officers responded to a report of two individuals who had been robbed at gunpoint at the intersection of Sixth Street and Central Avenue. The suspects allegedly took two wallets, two cellphones, a pair of earbuds, and car keys from one of the victims before fleeing the scene.
A possible suspect vehicle was spotted near First Street and Pacific Coast Highway, prompting officers to conduct a high-risk vehicle stop. The driver and one passenger complied by remaining in the vehicle, while three other suspects fled on foot in a northbound direction toward the San Gabriel River bike path, according to police reports.
Assistance in the search for the remaining suspects was provided by aerial units from the Huntington Beach Police Department and the Los Alamitos Police K-9 Unit. The three suspects were ultimately located and taken into custody without further incident.
Investigators recovered a firearm, later identified as stolen from Riverside, concealed in bushes along a bike path. The two men were identified as 18-year-old Jamie Saponguerra and 20-year-old Jose Barragan, according to police. The vehicle involved in the liquor store robbery was registered to the parents of one of the juvenile suspects.
All five suspects were charged with receiving stolen property, assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy, and resisting arrest. The juvenile suspects also faced charges related to being minors in possession of a firearm.
Individuals with information regarding the robberies are encouraged to contact Sgt. Joe Garcia at 562-799-4100, extension 1649.
