(KRON) — Seven suspects, including five juveniles, were arrested in the violent assault and robbery of someone who arranged to sell clothing to an unknown buyer on social media. The San Pablo Police Department said that officers responded at around 5:18 p.m. on Sept. 9 to the 900 block of Trenton Boulevard on reports of an armed robbery.
Arriving at the scene, officers learned that the victim had arranged to meet the buyer through social media. When they arrived, and met with the buyer, four additional masked subjects arrived and began to beat the victim.
Suspects, police said, produced handguns and struck the victims several times. The suspects then stole the victim’s clothing for sale and took off on foot.
San Pablo PD detectives took over the investigation and utilized San Pablo’s network of Public Safety Cameras. Following several weeks of diligent follow-ups on investigative leads, SPPD detectives identified seven suspects.
On Wednesday, San Pablo PD officers and numerous partner agencies, served search warrants at seven locations across Contra Costa County. Seven suspects, two adults and five juveniles, were taken into custody without incident.
Two firearms and multiple stolen items connected to the initial robbery were also recovered, police said.
The two adult suspects were identified as Damien Featherstone, 18, of Richmond, and Denis Melendez, 20, also of Richmond. Both were booked into the Martinez Detention facility on multiple charges, including assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, accessory, and conspiracy.
Four of the juvenile suspects were booked at Contra Costa Juvenile Hall on the same charges. A fifth juvenile was released to the custody of his guardians due to an unspecified medical condition, police said.
San Pablo PD thanked the following agencies for assisting in the arrests:
- Antioch Police Department
- Central County SWAT
- Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office
- Contra Costa County Major Crimes Task Force
- Hercules Police Department
- Richmond Police Department
Although arrests have been made, police say the investigation is ongoing.
