Behind the Badge
Three men are in custody for allegedly robbing five people at gunpoint last weekend in Tustin, with one of the suspects striking two of the victims in the head before the trio made off with the victims’ wallets and jewelry.
The two victims who were physically assaulted suffered minor injuries, the TPD said in a news release Friday, Nov. 22.
The investigation by the TPD unfolded in the early hours of Sunday, Nov. 17, when officers made contact with five people in a park in the 13600 block of Parkcenter Lane at 12:45 a.m. The group told officers that just hours before, they were in a parking structure in the 2900 block of Edinger Avenue when they were approached by three male suspects and were robbed at gunpoint.
Detectives from the Tustin Police Department took over the investigation and were quickly able to identify all three suspects, the news release said.
On Friday, Nov. 22, 2019, the Tustin Police Department’s Special Response Team, Criminal Investigations Unit, G.R.A.D.E. Unit, and the Irvine/Tustin SWAT team, executed a multi-location search warrant in Orange and Tustin.
During the course of the warrant service, all three suspects were taken into custody and a loaded firearm was recovered.
All three suspects were booked at the Orange County Jail on the following charges:
Omar Carreno, 22, of Orange, was charged with robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. Carreno has a prior arrest for possession of a stolen fireman, the TPD said.
Giovanny Monroy, 23, of Tustin, was charged with robbery. Monroy currently is on parole for assault with a deadly weapon.
Clarence Phillips, 21, of Tustin, was charged with robbery.
The TPD said it will seek gang enhancements on all three suspects.
