LBPD Detectives Link And Arrest Five Suspects Re Two Recent Robberies: One At Gunpoint With Physical Attack To A Man At Ocean Blvd/Shoreline Dr. Lot, Another 23 Hrs Later To Three Women Walking In 2nd St/Argonne Area of Belmont Shore

[LBPD release text] On Monday, August 25, 2014, at about approximately 12:08 a.m., Long Beach Police responded to the Alamitos Beach parking lot, located in the 700 block of E. Shoreline Drive, regarding a male victim in his 30s who was robbed at gunpoint. The victim reported to officers that he was confronted by a group of four males and one female who robbed him of two cell phones. The victim was also physically attacked during the robbery and the suspects fled the scene in a blue mini-van.
Later that night, August 25, 2014, at approximately 10:56 p.m., three females in their 30s were also robbed at gunpoint in the 200 block of Argonne Avenue by a male and female suspect. The victims were walking down the street when they were approached from behind by the suspects. The suspects demanded personal belongings from the victims before fleeing in a blue mini-van parked nearby.
Robbery detectives began investigating the two incidents, and based on the descriptions of the vehicle and suspects, believed the robberies were related. Detectives continued to work closely with the four victims and were able to uncover additional evidence. The investigation led detectives to an apartment complex in the 2300 Block of E. 14th Street in the City of Long Beach. Detectives were ultimately able to identify all five suspects involved in the two incidents, and discovered that four of them resided in the complex.
On August 27th and 28th, detectives arrested one male adult, one female adult, and three male juveniles for their roles in the two separate robberies.
On August 29, 2014, the case was presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and the below charges were filed against the following individuals:
Ronald Oliver Romero, 25, Long Beach: (4) counts of robbery, (1) count of assaults with deadly weapon
Selia Yanet Contreras, 25, Long Beach: (4) counts of robbery, (1) count of assault with a deadly weapon, (1) count of receiving stolen property
Male juvenile, 17, Long Beach: (1) count of robbery, (1) count of attempted robbery
Male juvenile, 15, Long Beach: (4) counts of robbery
The investigation remains ongoing in regards to the third juvenile that was arrested.
Anyone with information regarding these incidents is urged to contact Long Beach Police Robbery Detective Mark Steenhausen or Officer Brian Komori at (562) 570-7465. Anonymous tips may be submitted by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), texting TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.