Yakima police arrested a suspect in an armed robbery that occurred earlier today and are searching for suspects in two other armed robberies that happened over the weekend.
At about 7:50 am today (Monday, December 31st), YPD officers responded to a report of an armed robbery at the Conoco mini-market located at 1023 South 3rd Avenue. As officers were responding to the call, information was provided to them that the man suspected of having robbed the mini-mart had left the store with an undisclosed amount of cash and was headed east on a bicycle. Officers, including a YPD K-9, located a man fitting the suspect’s description about four blocks from the mini-mart. The suspect attempted to flee from officers, but was apprehended about a block from where he was first located. Officers recovered cash that the suspect had thrown over a nearby fence. The suspect, 27-year-old Heraclio Amezcua-Diaz, has been booked into the Yakima County jail and charged with1st degree armed robbery.
At about 9:15 am on Saturday, December 29th, YPD officers responded to a report of an armed robbery at the College Mart mini-market located at 1106 West Nob Hill Boulevard. A cashier at the store told officers a man described as having light skin and dark hair and wearing a black coat and black pants entered the mini-market, displayed a gun, and demanded money. The suspect was also wearing a white and red bandana on his face. The suspect left the store with an undisclosed amount of cash and headed east on Nob Hill on a bicycle. Police are actively searching for the suspect.
On Sunday, December 30th at about 5:40 pm, YPD officers responded to a report of an armed robbery at the Subway restaurant located at 1607 West Lincoln Avenue. The suspect was described as having dark skin and wearing a gray sweatshirt, black pants, and a dark beanie. The suspect was also wearing a gray bandana on his face. The suspect displayed a gun and demanded money. The suspect left the store with an undisclosed amount of cash. YPD deployed a K-9 to search for the suspect, but he was not located. Police are actively searching for the suspect.
Anyone with information regarding the armed robberies at the College Mart and the Lincoln Avenue Subway is urged to contact the Yakima Police Department at (509) 575-6200 or by calling 9-1-1. Tips can be also be reported to Yakima County Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-248-9980, on the organization’s website at crimestoppersyakco.org, or through the “P3 Tips” app that can be downloaded for free at p3intel.com/.