Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office press release:

On 08-12-2013, at approximately 4:45 p.m. the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a 37 year old male victim who told the Sheriff’s Office he was just robbed at gun point in Redway. The man provided the dispatcher with a description of the suspects; the weapon used which he described as a black and grey colored semi-automatic handgun, and the vehicle they were in along with a partial license plate. The dispatcher immediately broadcast a description to local law enforcement agencies.

A deputy met with 37 year old male victim who was uninjured. The victim told the investigating deputy he was approached by the three men near a gas station in Garberville. They asked him to sell them marijuana. He got into a Silver 2004 Chevy Impala with the three men in Garberville and they drove to Redway and parked near a church. There they smoked marijuana together. During that time the passenger drew a semi-automatic handgun which he pointed at the victim and told him to exit the car. The passenger told him to leave his backpack behind.

At approximately 5:15 p.m. a California Highway Patrol (C.H.P.) Officer spotted the vehicle described on northbound US 101 near Metropolitan (North of Rio Dell). A felony traffic stop was made by the C.H.P. Officer who was assisted by Rio Dell Police and Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office deputies. The three men in the vehicle were detained and deputies searched their vehicle. Inside the vehicle deputies located the victim’s wallet, backpack and a large garbage bag full of marijuana bud and leaf. No weapon was found in the car. The three men, identified as Alejandro Perez, 31 years old from Greenfield, California, Jason Lizarraga, 19 years old from King City, California and Ryan Francis, 21 Years old from King City, California were arrested on suspicion of armed robbery. All three men were transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where they were booked on armed robbery. Their bail was set at $100,000.00.

During the traffic stop a citizen drove up to the officers and told them he found a black and grey semi- automatic .45 caliber handgun on US 101 northbound near Redcrest in the middle of the northbound lanes, which he turned over to deputies.

Anyone with information for the Sheriff’s Office regarding this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriffs Office at 707-445-7251 or the Sheriffs Office Crime Tip line at 707-268-2539.