Arrests made in Yuba County 7-Eleven robberies

A suspected Linda gang member is behind bars in Yuba County, accused of robbing two 7-Eleven stores earlier this week in Marysville.

Carlos Almendariz was arrested around 7:45 a.m. Wednesday near his home in the 1700 block of Linda Avenue, according to the Marysville Police Department.

"Someone from the community recognized him and called us," said Sgt. Chris Sachs.

Police also arrested a 16-year-old boy during a subsequent search of Almendariz's home. The teen was captured running out the back door, holding the gun allegedly used in both robberies. The gun was loaded, police said.

Almendariz, 20, was booked into the Yuba County Jail on $50,000 bail on suspicion of two counts of robbery and criminal street gang participation. He was still in custody Wednesday night.

The teenager was booked into Bi-County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of being an accessory and being a juvenile in possession of a loaded firearm, police said.

A man with facial tattoos and white gloves used a black semiautomatic handgun to rob two 7-Eleven stores about 30 minutes apart late Monday, police said. The amount of money taken was not disclosed.

Police acknowledged they did not recover any stolen money during Wednesday's arrest.

Sachs said investigators linked Almendariz to both robberies.

Monday's armed robberies were the second and third in Yuba County since Friday.

A Burger King in Linda was robbed at gunpoint late Friday and a small amount of cash was stolen.

Yuba County sheriff's deputies described the Burger King robber as a black man who also had facial tattoos. No arrests have been in that case.

Wednesday's arrest comes on the heals of a recent spike in armed robberies in Yuba and Sutter counties.

Marysville police on Tuesday visited numerous local gas stations and liquor stores advising owners on ways to improve security.

Sachs praised the combined efforts of the police and sheriff's departments as well as the NET-5 narcotics and gang task force.

"And the person that called in the information," Sachs said. "This is a great example of everybody in the community working together to help send a message that these things are not going to be tolerated here."

CONTACT Rob Parsons at rparsons@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4785. Find him on Facebook at /ADcrimebeat or on Twitter at @ADcrimebeat.