Two charged in robbery of Cal Ave. smoke shop

By the Daily Post staff

Two men who were allegedly part of a group of smash-and-grab robbers that hit stores throughout the Bay Area have been charged in the robbery of a smoke shop on California Avenue in January, Palo Alto police said today.

The two men were already in Santa Clara County’s Elmwood jail in connection with a San Jose case when they were served with court papers yesterday (June 14) charging them in the Palo Alto robbery, police said.

Charged were Michael Earle, 18, of Menlo Park, and Andrew Manuel Maravilla-Lopez, 19, of Hayward, according to police.

The two men were charged in connection with the Jan. 13 robbery of Raw Smoke Shop at 265 California Ave. The clerk called police to say he had just been pistol-whipped and robbed by a group of eight men. Police said they responded quickly but the robbers were gone when they arrived. The victim sustained minor injuries to his head but declined medical attention.

Police began to investigate the case and soon determined the eight had pulled other armed robberies in the region. San Jose police coordinated the investigation and arrested six suspects on April 14 including the two who were charged Monday in the tobacco shop heist.

Police say the investigation is continuing. They say they don’t have evidence connecting the other suspects to the Palo Alto robbery.

3 Comments

    • Presumably, these savages expect leniency and compassion from the civilized society they violated and the poor soul they pistol whipped. Hopefully, they, and the other six, will serve long sentences. Neck taboos indeed.

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