Three Robbery suspects were arrested last week, thanks in large part to an almost immediate response time from a Pearland Police Detective who was on Holiday Patrol duty.
According to police reports, on Monday, at around 4:30 PM, a call came in to dispatch about a theft in progress at Macy's in Pearland Town Center.
Pearland Police Department Detective Bond - Jefrey Bond - was working at the mall as part of PPD's Holiday Patrol and was on the scene immediately.
Detective Bond saw one male and two female suspects, who matched the description given by the 9-1-1 caller, hurriedly moving though the parking lot. He made contact with the group, identified himself, and asked them to remain where they were. The male dropped the bags he was carrying and started walking away, but was caught right away.
The two females actually got into the vehicle, started it and proceeded to flee the scene, despite further commands to stop from Detective Bond. On their way out of the mall parking lot, they passed another Pearland patrol unit. The second officer quickly stopped the vehicle and detained the two females.
Based on witness statements and other evidence, the investigation revealed that the trio was allegedly shoplifting inside the Macy's when they were confronted by an employee as they tried to exit the store. The determined group then dispensed pepper spray in the face of the employee in order to disable him before running out the door with bags of stolen merchandise.
A search of the bags left on the ground and the suspects' would-be getaway vehicle produced multiple stolen items, including the merchandise from Macy's, and several other canisters of pepper spray.
All three suspects were charged with Robbery. The normal misdemeanor charge of theft/shoplifting was bumped up to a felony because of their use of pepper spray to injure the victim as they forcibly stole items. The driver was also charged with a second felony - Evading Arrest With Vehicle.
Arrested:
Deron Davis
26, Unknown
Robbery
Jassmine Barnes
30, Houston
Robbery
Gloria Riascos
30, Houston
Robbery
Evading Arrest With Vehicle
The store employee was treated at the scene by Pearland Fire for the injuries caused by the pepper spray.
The Pearland Police Department's Holiday Patrol is an initiative to help deter retail-theft crimes during the heavy shopping season.
Keep up the good work, PPD!