APD: 1 case leads to 6 arrests and guns, drugs seized from multiple locations

From Staff Reports
·3 min read

A reported robbery lead to multiple search warrants, a SWAT callout, six arrests, and confiscated firearms, drugs and stolen property, including a vehicle, over a 15-hour period during the weekend.

The Amarillo Police Department issued a news release about the two-day operation on Monday.

About 1 p.m. Friday, Amarillo officers arrived at the 2100 block of South Washington for a reported robbery. An individual told police he had been lured to a home by an acquaintance and then beaten with a gun, and his car was stolen. The information was given to officers from APD's Proactive Criminal Enforcement (PACE) unit.

The officers learned that one of the suspects had a warrant for another reported robbery. APD said PACE officers then began checking addresses of possible locations of suspects and following leads throughout Friday afternoon.

With the PACE officers working with Violent Crimes Detectives, two search warrants were obtained for two different homes. Evidence and two suspects were collected and brought to the police department for further investigation.

"While following more leads obtained, additional locations were discovered to be possible hiding places or known associates for two of the other suspects involved in this robbery," APD said in the news release. "One address was out in the county and had several buildings, a restaurant, and numerous cars inside the fenced property."

SWAT and the APD bomb team were also called in to assist on this investigation. Panhandle Auto Burglary and Theft Unit (PABTU) and Financial Crimes Detectives were also contacted due to some of the vehicles and multiple identifiers being found, police said. Two more suspects were located and arrested, and drugs and weapons used in the robbery were taken to the police department for continued investigation.

After an almost 15-hour investigation, six people were arrested, four in connection with the robbery, and all were booked into the Potter County jail on their charges.

  • Joshua Vega, 37, was arrested on charges for aggravated robbery, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and fraudulent use or possession of identifying information (FUPID).

  • Christopher Garcia, 27, was arrested on charges for aggravated robbery, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and an outstanding warrant for another robbery unrelated to this incident.

  • David Trimble, 39, was arrested on charges for aggravated robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

  • Jennifer Hernandez, 36, was arrested on a charge for tampering with evidence.

  • Brylea Carter, 32, was arrested on a charge for possession of controlled substance penalty group 1, more than 4 grams but less than 200.

  • Jesse Price, 46, was arrested on a felony DWI warrant.

This case has been assigned to the Violent Crimes Unit.

"This collaborative investigation resulted in the arrest of six people for felony charges directly related to this case," APD said. "Three firearms, five ounces of meth, hundreds of stolen ID and credit card info, and recovery of one stolen vehicle were recovered directly related to this case. Three other felons were also arrested during this investigation."

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo police say robbery investigation led to 6 felony arrests