On April 19, 2020 at about 9pm, San Rafael Police Officers went to the area of Novato Street and Canal Street on the report of a possible robbery in progress and that one of the suspects may have had a knife.  Responding officers located two victims but the suspects had already fled the scene.

The victims had previously been in a verbal altercation at Pickleweed Park earlier in the night with the suspects, prior to the robbery taking place.  The victims told SRPD officers that they wree walking in the 400 block of Canal Street when one of the victims heard someone yell from a balcony of an apartment.  At that point, the victims saw both suspects approach them and began to assault them.  The victims stated that they were kicked and punched for about one minute.  One victim said that one of the suspects had a knife in his hand but did not threaten them with the knife.  After assaulting the victims, one of the suspects took the victims phone and fled the scene. 

Based on the investigation and evidence at the crime scene, SRPD officers identified Julio Cesar Gomez Bolanos as one of the suspects who committed the robbery.  SRPD officers searched for Bolanos that night but were unable to locate him.

On April 22, 2020 at about 1:10 am, Officer Elisha Adams was in the 700 block of B Street in San Rafael.  Officer Adams drove into the parking lot of the 7-11 and noticed that there were three people inside the store.  He noticed that one person moved quickly to the rear of the store when he saw Officer Adams in an attempt to conceal himself.  Officer Adams exited his car and entered the store and walked towards the subject.  He immediately recognized him as Javier Bolanos and knew he was wanted wanted for robbery.  Officer Adams placed Bolanos under arrest and searched him incident to arrest.  He located suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in Bolanos’ possession.  Officer Adams transported Bolanos to SRPD.

Detective Corporal Lilah Gavlick and Detective Oscar O’Con were called in to conduct a further investigation.  The detectives determined Bolanos was one of the suspects that committed the robbery the night of April 19^th and additionally identified Bolanos as a gang member. 

Bolanos was booked at the Marin Couty Jail for Robbery, Participation in a Criminal Street Gang, Violation of Probation, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Illegal Drug Paraphernalia.

The second suspect in this robbery is still outstanding.