San Diego County Sheriff's Department: Encinitas / Solana Beach Armed Robbery

Press release from San Diego County Sheriff's Department:

10/25/2021 7:23 AM

On 10/22/2021, at approximately 2020 hours, the Carlsbad Police Department reported an armed robbery had just occurred at the Rite Aid located at 7100 Avenida Encinas, Carlsbad.

A few minutes after Carlsbad Police Department's notification, deputies from the Sheriff's North Coastal Station responded to a report of an armed robbery at the CVS Pharmacy located at 455 Encinitas Blvd., Encinitas.  Sheriff's deputies believing the suspect(s) were traveling south, targeting pharmacies located in close proximity to Interstate 5, headed to the CVS Pharmacy in Solana Beach located at 683 Lomas Santa Fe Dr.

As Sheriff's deputies arrived at the Solana Beach CVS Pharmacy, they observed a male, matching the description of Carlsbad Police Department's armed robbery suspect, walk into the CVS Pharmacy.  The suspect exited the CVS Pharmacy, where he was confronted by deputies.  The suspect ran away from the deputies, who gave chase.  While running from the deputies, the male discarded a loaded small caliber handgun onto the ground.  Deputies were able to catch the suspect, taking him into custody.  The suspect has been identified as 25-year-old Benjamin Vence Corona.    

Anyone with information about this case can call the Sheriff's Department's non-emergency line at

(858) 565-5200

Media Contact: Sergeant T. Byrne    

Email Address of Contact: Thomas.Byrne@sdsheriff.org

Telephone Number of Contact: (760) 966 - 3500

This press release was produced by San Diego County Sheriff's Department. The views expressed here are the author’s own.