The Daily Blotter 06/14/10

AUSTIN (KXAN) - ROT Rally weekend brings arrests

Austin police issued warrants to arrest at least 10 people for their alleged involvement in motorcycle accidents throughout the ROT Rally weekend.

The charges range from failing to stop and help motorcyclists who were injured in crashes to intoxication assault and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

In one motorcycle crash, passenger Barbara Garza, 36, was thrown off the motorcycle and later died.

Cops: Man robbed 8-year-old boy, carjacked man

Police issued a warrant for a man they said they believe has been involved in several aggravated robberies throughout the area, including the robbery of an 8-year-old boy.

Albert Perez Arias, 21, is charged with robbery by assault after police said he grabbed a boy who outside playing at his apartment complex at 7104 Northeast Drive on May 16.

The young victim told police Perez Arias acted like he knew him and started pulling his necklace. The boy said he was in pain and felt as though he was going to faint.

The boy's mother told police she saw Perez Arias yank the gold chain from her son's neck and called police to provide the vehicle's license plate.

On May 20, police said they learned the vehicle was registered to a woman who worked at the Pink Monkey Strip Club and who police were also investigating for a possible connection to a series of aggravated robberies. Police said Perez Arias was dating that woman.

Meanwhile, police said they believed Perez Arias was also involved in another aggravated robbery on April 11 after a man reported he was the victim of an aggravated robbery.

The victim said he was at a Shell gas station when he was approached by a man in his mid-20s, who police said they believe is Perez Arias. They said Perez Arias asked him for a ride down the street to the Walmart.

Eventually, the man reportedly offered the victim $20 for a ride before he agreed. While driving to the Walmart, the suspect allegedly displayed a handgun, pointed it at the victim and told him to pull over and get out.

The victim told police he pulled onto Norwood Park and got out as the suspect drove off in the vehicle, which was located at 1901 E. Anderson Lane stripped of the custom rims, stereo and alarm system.

The Travis County Sheriff’s Office contacted the Austin Police Department Robbery Unit and asked if they were working car jacking/robberies involving a suspect and gun description similar to the suspect in this case. Following leads, a search warrant was executed at Perez Arias’ last known residence, and property belonging to several victims was recovered in his apartment.

Authorities arrested Perez Arias on a robbery warrant after both victims - the 8-year-old and the carjacking victim - positively identified him in a lineup.

Pizza shop employee held at gunpoint

Police said Jeffrey Grando, 38, robbed an Austin pizza shop June 7 at gunpoint.

The incident happened at the store located at 2110 W. Slaughter Lane .

Authorities said the Papa Murphy's employee was able to identify Grando in a photo lineup.

Man enters barber shop asking for toilet paper

A man entered a barber shop asking for toilet paper but ended up being charged with unlawful possession of a firearm.

Police said Frank Lee, 23, entered the shop on 737 Montopolis Drive on Sunday when witnesses said they saw a handgun sticking out of his pocket.

Police located Lee not far from the scene.

Police respond to double burglary

A neighbor called 911 to report a burglary in progress at his neighbor's home at 5004 Strass Drive on June 6.

The neighbor said three males had just left the home with a stereo and that they were in a black Ford pickup truck. Officers responded and discovered a rear window had been broken and that the front door was unlocked.

Neighbors told the officers one of the men had jumped from the truck and ran around to the backyard. The truck driver then reportedly backed into driveway while another man exited the truck and entered the home through the front door.

The two men were reportedly seen shortly thereafter carrying a small radio or stereo with a handle.

As officers investigated the scene, two neighbors reported seeing three males breaking into a home located at 1405 W 51st St. , which is only a few blocks away.

One of the neighbors photographed the three suspects and the vehicle they showed up in, and it matched the vehicle description from initial burglary.

Detectives have issued arrest warrants for Carlos Arturo Sosa, 26, Oscar Luis Sosa, 29, and Oscar Marquez-Laredo, 22. They are all facing charges of engaging in organized criminal activity.