Crime & Safety
Banning Man Charged In Armed Robberies Used A Fake Gun, Police Say
Police believe the two robberies at different businesses were carried out with a replica firearm by a 37-year-old transient of Banning.
BANNING, CA — A 37-year-old man accused of robbing two Banning businesses with what police say was a replica handgun has been charged with multiple felony offenses following his arrest earlier this week.
Codi Jay Shelton faces two counts of second-degree robbery, along with sentence-enhancing allegations for using a weapon during the commission of a felony and having a prior strike conviction, court records show.
He is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility and was scheduled to make his initial court appearance Friday at the Banning Justice Center.
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Banning police responded around 6:34 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, to a reported armed robbery at the Jack in the Box at 6350 W. Ramsey St. Investigators said a white adult male in his 30s with facial tattoos approached the counter, displayed what appeared to be a handgun and demanded cash.
“The subject stole cash from one of the registers and fled on foot,” police Capt. Brandon Smith said.
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Patrol officers searched the area but were unable to locate the suspect initially. After reviewing surveillance footage and relying on prior contacts, officers identified Shelton as the alleged robber, Smith said. He was located less than three hours later on West Beaumont Avenue and taken into custody without incident, police said.
Police said a replica pistol and cash were recovered at the time of his arrest.
During the investigation, officers also linked Shelton to an earlier robbery reported around 5:56 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, at the Walgreens at 60 N. Highland Springs Ave. In that incident, a man matching Shelton’s description allegedly threatened a clerk with what appeared to be a handgun before stealing cash and fleeing, according to police.
No injuries were reported in either robbery. Court records indicate Shelton, whom police believe is a transient, has at least two prior felony convictions, though details were not immediately available.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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