Watsonville police arrest 3 in violent robbery in which clerk was beaten with bat

Watsonville Police have arrested three males in connection with a brutal robbery earlier this month in which a store clerk was beaten with a baseball bat.

Police responded to the La Tiendita Market on Rodriguez Street on the night of Sept. 7 for reports of an armed robbery in which two male suspects entered the store, and one of them beat the clerk so badly that he suffered a fractured skull.

Police investigators say they’d been working doggedly on the case ever since and on Tuesday, their investigation led them to California State University Monterey Bay. That’s where one of the juvenile suspects was believed to be living with his girlfriend in a residence hall.

He was taken into custody. Shortly afterward, investigators arrested Crecencio Ramirez, 20, at his workplace in Castroville.

Police continued their investigation and determined a third person was involved in the robbery – a 17-year-old believed to be the person who beat the clerk. Investigators determined the teen had fled to Southern California after the robbery and subsequent media reports.

Watsonville police were able to arrest the teen in Coachella with help from law enforcement there.

The juvenile was transported back to Santa Cruz County and booked into the Santa Cruz County Juvenile Hall late Wednesday night.

Ramirez was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail.

He and the two teenagers are being held on suspicion of robbery, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit robbery. The names of the two 17-year-old suspects are being withheld because of their age.

NewsChannel 5 reporter Monica Jacquez will be speaking with Watsonville Police Chief Manny Solano Thursday to find out more about how these arrests were made and what the next steps in the case are.