Suspect 'Pepper Sprayed' Employee Amid RivCo Robbery: Sheriff

CABAZON, CA — Riverside County Sheriff's Department deputies, with the assistance of the Los Angeles Police Department, arrested a man suspected of robbing a Cabazon business in March.

Andrew Hogans, a 30-year-old Los Angeles resident, was arrested Tuesday in Los Angeles. He was being held at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility, awaiting a May 19 court date to answer charges for robbery, illegal use of pepper spray, and additional felony charges.

The robbery occurred on March 28 at a business in the 48600 block of Seminole Drive in Cabazon. That day, sheriff's deputies from the Cabazon station arrived to find a victim, pepper-sprayed by the suspects, required treatment at a local hospital, according to Sgt. Josh Button.

"Deputies reviewed surveillance footage and observed two suspects enter the business and quickly grab multiple items from displays and other areas," Button stated. When the unidentified victim confronted the suspects, the person was sprayed with pepper spray, and both suspects fled the scene. Deputies assigned to the Riverside Sheriff’s Cabazon Station’s Special Enforcement Team assumed the investigation and identified one of the suspects as Hogans.

Deputies believe additional suspects were involved and are working to identify them, Buttons said.

"This is an ongoing investigation, and no further details are available at this time. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Deputy Sean Patrick or Deputy Ron Asendorf at the Cabazon Sheriff’s Station by calling 951–922–7100.

"The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office is committed to aggressively pursuing individuals who commit these crimes," Buttons said. "Each case will be thoroughly investigated to ensure those responsible are identified and held accountable."