An armed robbery suspect’s apparent inability to drive a vehicle with a standard transmission appears to have played a role in his quick capture.
Devin Michael Saucedo, 22, of the 1700 block of High Street, is charged with two second-degree felony counts of armed robbery, one second-degree felony count of kidnapping and four fourth-degree felony counts of aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony.
Shortly after noon on Wednesday, Jan. 24, police were dispatched to the report of an armed robbery at the Walgreens store at 2300 E. Lohman Ave. Officers learned that a man entered the store, jumped the counter into the pharmacy and pointed a handgun at three employees. The suspect demanded prescription drugs, specifically oxycodone and promethazine with codeine, before he fled the store and left heading south on foot.
Police learned the suspect then attempted to carjack a Ford Fiesta near Gym Magic, at 2341 Entrada Del Sol, but apparently was unable to operate the vehicle since it has a standard transmission. Police learned the suspect then forced the motorist – at gunpoint – back into the vehicle and ordered him to drive to a home on the 100 block of south Willow Street, only a few blocks from the Walgreens store.
The motorist complied and called 911 shortly after dropping off the suspect near the home on Willow Street. Officers surrounded the home and detained several occupants. Saucedo was one of the occupants and matched the description of the suspect from the armed robbery.
No injuries were reported by employees of the Walgreens or by the motorist who was briefly taken against his will. Nearby schools were placed on shelter-in-place as a precautionary measure. That order was lifted within about 30 minutes and schools continued with their regular schedules.
Saucedo was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center where he is initially being held without bond.
Information from Las Cruces Police