Three arrested in robbery spree around Salinas

Three men were arrested for their roles in a spree of armed robberies in Salinas.

According to police, the first robbery happened behind an apartment complex in the 900 block of Nantucket Blvd around 3:40 p.m. on Jan. 18.

The suspects were identified as 18-year-old Eduardo Melgoza, 23-year-old Ivan Manriquez, and 18-year-old Andres Lopez.

“Manriquez brandished a gun at two victims and took their personal property,” said SPD.

A second robbery happened around 4p.m. in the parking lot of a shopping center in the 1500 block of Constitution Blvd. The suspects didn’t steal anything but the victims were able to give officers a vehicle description. The vehicle description matched the car in the first robbery.

Salinas police said the suspects struck again about ten minutes later, as they attempted to rob a person at gunpoint in the 700 block of Elkington. The suspects reportedly threatened to shoot the man as he picked up a rock to defend himself. The suspects ran without taking anything from the man and police said they robbed two more victims down the road.

Investigators obtained a license plate number of the suspect’s car and attempted to contact the registered owner in the 1200 block of Rider Avenue.

About 40 minutes after the robbery on Elkington the car was located driving in the area of Rider Ave.

Officers pulled the car over and detained all three men. The men were positively identified as the armed robbery suspects. The stolen property was found inside the car but the gun was not.

Manriquez, Melgoza, and Lopez were booked into the Monterey County Jail on multiple counts of armed robbery and conspiracy.