Suspect arrested in armed robberies in Clovis

Clovis police detectives arrested a 21-year-old Clovis man Friday suspected to be involved in the armed robberies Thursday night at two fast-food restaurants.

Police said Samuel Guerrero, 21, is also a suspect in a series of armed robberies at Clovis movie theater this summer, though he has not been charged.

Guerrero has been charged with two counts of aggravated robbery; and three counts of aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony, all in connection with Thursday incidents.

Guerrero is being held at Curry County Adult Detention Center on a $100,000 cash-only bond.

The armed robbery suspect “doesn’t appear to be connected to the homicide that occurred Thursday that we’re aware of,” Clovis police Det. David Yoakum said. The homicide and two armed robberies were reported within 25 minutes on Thursday night.

Based on evidence and descriptive testimony, Yoakum obtained an arrest warrant for Guerrero.

“I served that warrant on Samuel Guerrero at 2:50 p.m. Friday,” Yoakum said.

The robbery spree began about 10 p.m. Thursday when a man described as a 5-foot-7-inch Hispanic male wearing all black clothes with a hooded jacket and a white bandana around his face and mouth attempted to hold up McDonald’s restaurant, according to police.

“The suspect came in with a handgun and demanded money from the assistant manager,” Yoakum said. “According to the employees, the money had already been deposited. The employees went to the back as if to retrieve some money, but the suspect became nervous and left.”

A surveillance camera was operating in the store, police said.

“Thirteen minutes later, we got a call that an armed robbery had just occurred at Long John Silver’s,” Yoakum said. “It was the exact same description of the suspect and the handgun he had used.”

During the robbery at Long John Silver’s, when the suspect entered the store, he “cocked the weapon, causing a round to eject from the pistol,” said Officer Larry “Bart” Phillips in the police report. Then, “the suspect picked up the cartridge and placed it back into the handgun.”

Yoakum said police officers have recovered the weapon.

“We have some evidence a weapon that appeared to be utilized in the two crimes was recovered,” he said. “It’s a 9mm Smith and Wesson.”

The Clovis area has had a series of armed robberies since mid-June. North Plains Cinema was robbed three times, most recently the last week of July.