Scooter-riding robber identified; already in custody

SANTA ANA (KABC) -- A man who cased a grocery store on a motorized scooter, then grabbed the store manager and robbed the place was identified on Thursday. He was already in custody on an unrelated incident.

Antonio Delgado Juarez was in Santa Ana Police custody, arrested for burglary, battery and possession of burglary tools on Monday in an unrelated case. Santa Ana Police received a tip from the public that led to the identification of Juarez after the case was aired on local television. Details of the Monday arrest were not released.

On September 18 around 10 a.m., Juarez jumped off a scooter inside a Food 4 Less, put the store manager in a chokehold and robbed the supermarket.

Surveillance video shows Juarez grabbing a motorized scooter and riding up and down aisles for more than 15 minutes. Police believe he was scoping out the store.

He then got off the scooter and grabbed the store manager from behind.

"He grabs him really hard and puts him in a chokehold and then places whatever object, we can't really see in this video, appears to be something next to his throat," said Santa Ana Police Corporal Anthony Bertagna. "The manager believes that he has a weapon and that's why he does what he's told."

The suspect forced the manager past customers and into the front office, where he ordered the manager and the bookkeeper to open the safe and put money in the suspect's backpack.

"While he's in the office, he demands the manager's personal car keys and then walks the manager outside and makes him point out the vehicle," said Bertagna.

The suspect left in the manager's car, which was a 2001 silver, two-door Toyota Echo with the California license plate 4NFE493.

The suspect was described as a male Hispanic, 30 to 35 years old, standing 5 feet 9 inches to 6 feet tall, and weighing 250 to 280 pounds. He has a shaved head and a goatee.

Anyone with information was asked to contact Santa Ana Police.