Location: 4901 South Union Avenue, Bakersfield, Ca

Bakersfield Police Department News Release
12/18/07
Detective Mary DeGeare
(661) 326-3626

On 12/17/07, at 11:00 p.m., Bakersfield Police officers were dispatched
to an armed robbery at the Fastrip, 4901 South Union Avenue.  The female
clerk reported two Hispanic males entered the business and tried to
steal beer.  When she physically detained the suspect who was holding
the beer the second suspect returned, brandished a knife, and ordered
the clerk to let go of the first suspect.  The two suspects ran
southbound on Pamela Street and they were picked up by a third Hispanic
male driving a Honda Accord.

A tow truck driver, who was in the area, observed the offense and
followed the suspects to a residence in the 2900 block of Gary Place.
When the first officer arrived, he observed 2 Hispanic males matching
the description of the robbery suspects exit the back door of the
residence and then go back inside.  Assisting units arrived and a
perimeter was set.  Officers ordered the occupants out of the residence
over the public announcement system numerous times.  Maria Perez and her
two sons, David Perez (18) and Juan Antonio Perez Jr. (23), came out the
front door and contacted the officers.  At about the same time, Miguel
Angel Espinosa (19) ran out the back door and was arrested by officers
to the rear of the house.  A short time later, officers were able to
convince another one of Maria Perez’ sons, a 17 year old, to come
outside.

Officers, including a K9 handler, intending to search the house for
additional suspects asked Maria Perez and her sons if there was anyone
else inside the house.  Maria Perez and her sons informed the officers
that her son, “Miguel,” was still inside.   The officers to the
front of the house confirmed with the officers to the rear of the house
that the suspect they had in custody in the back was named “Miguel,”
which accounted for all “five” of the occupants described by Maria
Perez and her sons. 

As officers entered the yard, intending to search the home for
additional suspects, they announced their presence and the fact that
they were preparing to enter with a police K9 several times. This
announcement was made again as they entered the home and at each
interior doorway.  After searching several rooms, officers reached a
position in the hallway wherein they paused to confirm their tactical
plan to enter the remaining bedrooms.  At this point the K9, which was
still on leash, lunged into an unsearched bedroom and bit Miguel Perez
(14) as he lay under the covers in a bed that was close to the bedroom
door.  The K9 handler pulled the dog back out of the room.  Miguel Perez
sustained a laceration across his forehead, a puncture below his right
eyebrow, and a small laceration above his left ear. He was taken to Kern
Medical Center and admitted.

Miguel Perez was not involved in the robbery at the Fastrip.

Miguel Angel Espinoza (18), Juan Anthony Perez Jr. (23) and a 17 year
old male were determined to be involved in the robbery and were arrested
for conspiracy, burglary, robbery, and participation in a criminal
street gang.