Two robbery incidents lead to arrest

Deputies from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station are investigating two armed robbery incidents that occurred Friday night. In the first incident, deputies were called to the Taco Bell Restaurant in the 24800 block of Pico Canyon Road, Stevenson Ranch, at approximately 7:15 p.m., to reports of an attempted robbery.  The suspect reportedly drove to the restaurant's drive-thru window, produced a handgun and demanded money.  The employees backed away from the window and the suspect drove away without obtaining any property.  The deputies arrived, broadcast the information and checked the area, but were not able to locate the suspect.
 
In the second incident, deputies were called to the Jack-In-The-Box restaurant in the 22900 block of Lyons Avenue, Newhall, at approximately 9:50 p.m. to reports of an armed robbery.  The suspect reportedly drove to the restaurants drive-thru window, produced a handgun and demanded money.  He fled the area in a white compact car after obtaining a small amount of United States currency.
 
Deputies assigned to the Sheriff's/City of Santa Clarita's COBRA Unit quickly responded to the Jack-In-The-Box and began gathering videotaped evidence.  The information was broadcast to all Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's units and at approximately 12:50 a.m. COBRA Deputy Mike McPheeters spotted a vehicle and suspect, matching the description of those given in both robbery incidents, near Mcbean Parkway and Avenue Scott.  Several deputies responded and the suspect, MW/62, of Valencia was taken into custody without incident after a felony traffic stop.  Deputies recovered a loaded handgun and other evidence in the suspects vehicle.
 
The name of the suspect has not yet been released as the investigation is ongoing.  Detectives are looking into the possibility that this suspect may be responsible for other robbery incidents in the Santa Clarita Valley and other areas, including the attempted robbery at the Newhall Citibank on Thursday, November 15th, 2007, which is listed on the "SCV Most Wanted" page at SCVSheriff.com.  The suspect was booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station on felony charges of Robbery and misdemeanor charges of Possession of a Concealed Firearm in a Vehicle and Possession of a Loaded Firearm in a Vehicle.  He is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail pending future court proceedings.