3 men arrested, 1 on the run in connection with meat market robberies
Gianna Caserta
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – Three men are in custody and one other is on the run after authorities connected them to a string of meat market robberies across Harris and Fort Bend Counties.
A search was underway Thursday afternoon at an apartment complex in the 9600 block of W. Montgomery in northwest Harris County.
Authorities followed the men after they responded to an armed robbery at the La Michoacana on 1424 Spring Cypress.
"I can't stand thieves,” says Justin Knight.
U.S. Marine Justin Knight was sitting at the bar at the Stadium when he saw two men running out of La Michoacana with arm-fulls of cash.
"Two males ran by and a couple minutes later they ran back by," says Knight.
On surveillance video, you can see Justin run out the back door after them. After realizing they were too far ahead, he ran back inside and towards the front of the store where his motorcycle was parked.
"I chased them down on the motorcycle, when I caught up to them they were flipping through the money, there happen to be a Sheriff's deputy sitting right there. I flagged down, from there they did the police pursuit," says Knight.
After a short chase, one adult and two juveniles were taken into custody. A fourth suspect got away.
"We are linking their photos to do a lineup with other robberies that we have had," says Deputy Thomas Gilliland, Harris Co. Sheriff's Office.
There have been several robberies in the last 3 weeks where the crooks have gotten away with ten of thousands of dollars from Barri Financial Group, a check cashing service offered inside most La Michoacana Markets.
"They were hitting on the windows, saying give me the money or we are going to shoot," says Krystal Zambrano, Barri employee.
On Thursday Krystal Zambrano was working at the Barri counter when she says the suspect shoved a gun to her head and demanded cash.
"He knew where the safe was, because he pointed to the safe, and said give me that money," says Zambrano.