Man Poses As Officer, Robs Sonoma Co. Fruit Vendor: Sheriff's Office

SONOMA COUNTY, CA -- Sonoma County sheriff's deputies on Sunday arrested a Santa Rosa man who allegedly posed as a police officer to rob a fruit vendor a day earlier.

John Aloia, 38, allegedly approached the 34-year-old man from Oakland around 4 p.m. Saturday at his fruit stand at Calistoga and Porter Creek roads in unincorporated Sonoma County.

Aloia allegedly showed a badge, identified himself as a police officer and demanded to see the vendor's permit. Aloia then allegedly handcuffed the man's hands behind his back, pushed him against the truck and
took cash from the vendor's pockets, sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Crum said.

Aloia removed the handcuffs, ordered the vendor to pack up his fruit stand and left in a gray Chevrolet pickup truck.

A witness to the robbery provided deputies with the truck's license plate and the sheriff's office issued a "Be on the Lookout" alert.

Napa County sheriff's Deputy Bill Djernes spotted the truck around 12:30 a.m. Sunday in the 2400 block of Foothill Boulevard in Calistoga.

Deputies found handcuffs, a handgun in a locked case and a bail bondsman's badge in the truck.

The sheriff's office has not verified Aloia's claim that he is a bail bondsman, Crum said.

Aloia was arrested and booked into Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of kidnapping and robbery while impersonating a police officer. He posted $50,000 bond and was released, Crum said.

By Bay City News Service

Image via Sonoma County Sheriff's Office