Armed robbery fails after store clerk wrestles gun from robbers Thursday night

On Thursday, January 14th, 2021, at approximately 10:30 pm, the Turlock Police Department received a call of an attempted armed robbery that had just occurred at D’s Liquors located at 605 Lander Ave. The clerk reported that a subject, accompanied by two other subjects, entered the store and demanded cash from the register, while threatening the clerk with the gun. A struggle ensued and the clerk was able to remove the gun from the suspect. The clerk then reported that all three subjects ran out of the store westbound on Angelus St. Two of them got into a silver BMW sedan and drove off southbound on Lander Ave.

Officers saturated the area within a minute but were unable to locate the subjects. A short time later, at approximately 11:00 pm, the Turlock Police Department received a call from American Medical Response reporting suspicious activity in the area of the Dust Bowl located at 3000 Fulkerth Rd. American Medical Response personnel reported that a silver BMW drove up on the sidewalk on the wrong side of the road in front of the business, parked, and then three subjects got out of it and possibly attempted to break in to the Dust Bowl.

Officers arrived on scene within minutes and located the vehicle, but it was unoccupied. A search for the subjects ensued. The subjects at times popped out of nearby orchards, but when officers checked the orchards they had popped out of, were unable to locate them. At one point, assistance from the Sheriff’s Office Air Support Unit was requested, but unfortunately the helicopter was unavailable at the time, however, the Sheriff’s Office dispatch indicated that the Newman Police Department was searching for a vehicle matching the description given that was responsible for a robbery in their jurisdiction.

The Turlock Police Department contacted the Newman Police Department and an officer from their agency responded to the Dust Bowl. The officer confirmed that the vehicle was indeed their suspect vehicle. After a couple hours searching, the search was discontinued with no subjects being caught.