Rohnert Park Armed Robber Caught Thanks To Auto Zone Clerk: Cops

ROHNERT PARK, CA — A man suspected of robbing a woman of her purse in the parking lot of a Rohnert Park apartment complex and trying to rob a man at another apartment complex was apprehended Tuesday evening thanks to a clerk at the local Auto Zone, according to the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety. The clerk called at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday to report a possible sighting of the suspect, Rohnert Park DPS Commander Aaron Johnson said in a news release.

The sighting came within hours of Rohnert Park DPS publishing an appeal to the public in which the robber was described as a thin Hispanic man in his 20s or 30s who might be driving a red or burgundy Honda Accord with body damage. Police had said the robber's car most likely had damage to its right front fender/bumper because he'd hit some parked cars as he left the scene of a failed robbery attempt early Tuesday morning at Oak View apartments off Rohnert Park Expressway and Snyder Lane.

The clerk told police a man possibly matching the suspect description had just purchased a dent puller after also spending some time looking at spray paint. The clerk also told police the man left Auto Zone by driving north on Commerce Boulevard, Johnson said.

Detectives who were actively working the case heard the call go out over the radio and located a burgundy Honda Accord in the parking lot of the Budget Inn. When they noticed the car was "the same description, had the described damage and had the same license plate as described by the clerk" they decided to conduct surveillance on it, Johnson said.

A short time later, detectives saw a woman get into the driver's side and a man into the passenger's side. As the pair traveled away from the motel they were stopped by officers in marked patrol cars.

The driver did not have any identification with her and initially lied about her name but finally identified herself as 27-year-old Wendy Torres, Johnson said.

Torres was arrested when a records check revealed she had outstanding warrants for her arrest.

The male passenger was identified as 24-year-old Hugo Eduardo Lopez Ferreira.

"A search of the car revealed a methamphetamine pipe where Lopez Ferreira was sitting," Johnson said. "Officers also located what looked like a real pistol in the vehicle. The pistol turned out to be a BB gun."

Officers continued to search the car and allegedly recovered more than 7 ounces of crystal meth from the car along with $900 in cash.

Clothing matching the description provided by one of the robbery victims was also found inside the car, Johnson said.

That victim positively identified the suspect, his clothes and his gun, Johnson said.

Additionally, she confirmed that some of the items found in the car belonged to her, Johnson said.

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Lopez-Ferreira was arrested and booked into Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of robbery, possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance for sale, transportation of a controlled substance, possession of narcotic paraphernalia, attempted robbery and hit-and-run.

Jail records show Lopez-Ferreira was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail Wednesday pending a court appearance scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

Torres remained in custody Wednesday and was being held without bail.

Mugshot via Sonoma County Sheriff's jail website