The man suspected of committing the Oct. 9 armed robbery that resulted in a SWAT callout and temporary closure of a portion of Amador Avenue was arrested Saturday evening.
Daniel Ray “Wedo” Zertuche Jr., 24, is charged with one count of armed robbery and one count of conspiracy. Zertuche’s suspected accomplice, 32-year-old Angel David Villarreal, was arrested the day of the armed robbery and charged with one count of conspiracy.
Las Cruces Police detectives learned that the 27-year-old victim and Zertuche knew each other but had disagreements in the month prior to the armed robbery. On Thursday, Oct. 9, Zertuche is alleged to have contacted the victim and invited him to a residence on the 1500 block of east Amador Avenue.
The victim located Zertuche and Villarreal in a shed on the north side of the property and was invited in. Once inside Zertuche is alleged to have pointed a black shotgun at the victim, and robbed him of a cell phone, his wallet and about $40 in cash.
The victim was able to run from the shed and fled to a local Pic Quik store where he called 911.
Police responded rather quickly and surrounded the property. Villarreal was located nearby and arrested for his involvement. Zertuche was believed to be in the residence, or the shed, prompting the SWAT callout.
Police subsequently learned that he fled the property and his whereabouts was unknown until his arrest early in the evening of Saturday, Oct. 25.
Villarreal was released on bond the day after his arrest. Zertuche was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center with bond set at $50,000.
Information from Las Cruces Police