A 25-year-old Las Cruces man suspected of committing an armed robbery Sunday afternoon was arrested within minutes.
Juan Pablo Barraza, 25, is charged with one count of robbery, and one count of resisting or obstructing a peace officer.
At around 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, Las Cruces Police were dispatched to the report of an armed robbery at the Metro PCS store at 1855 E. Lohman Ave. Officer learned that a masked man entered the business, used a handgun to threaten an employee and demanded cash from the register.
The suspect stole an undisclosed amount of cash and an employee’s cellphone before running from the store.
A Las Cruces Police officer on a call for service near Hermosa Elementary School learned of the robbery and spotted a suspicious subject headed toward him, through the school campus. The officer attempted to make contact with the subject who tried to run away.
The officer gave chase and took the subject, later identified as Barraza, into custody.
Detectives learned that Barraza wore a mask that made him look much older when he entered the Metro PCS store. A pair of witnesses saw Barraza running away from the store and removing a mask. Barraza also removed a shirt he was wearing during the robbery.
Barraza’s shirt and the stolen cell phone were located near where officers first saw him. The weapon Barraza allegedly used was believed to be a black air gun.
Barraza was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center where he is initially held without bond.
Information from Las Cruces Police