South Bay Man Linked To 2 Casino Robberies: Cops

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — A man accused of multiple robberies, two of which occurred at South Bay casinos, was arrested last week, San Jose police said.

Brian Valverde, 22 of San Jose, was arrested Jan. 30 in connection with multiple incidents that began Dec. 27, police said. He was arrested on suspicion of robbery, grand theft, assault with a deadly weapon and narcotics sales.

Evidence of narcotics sales surfaced during a search of Valverde at the time of his arrest, police said.

Officers on Dec. 27 responded to the area of Blue Mountain Drive and Mount McKinley Drive on the report of a robbery and vandalism in which the victim said the suspect intentionally rear-ended her, stole her personal property, then proceeded to threaten to shoot her if she followed him, police said.

The incident prompted an SJPD Robbery Unit investigation in which Valverde was identified as the suspect, police said. The investigation involved the use of license-plate readers.

The investigation linked Valverde to the following crimes:

• Jan. 5: A strong-armed purse snatch robbery occurred in the parking lot of Bay 101 Casino in San Jose.
• Jan. 22: An armed robbery with a firearm in the 3000 block of Stevens Creek Boulevard in Santa Clara.
• Jan. 23: An assault with a deadly weapon occurred at Matrix Casino in San Jose. The victim was walking towards the casino when a male suspect approached her with a four-to-six-inch knife.
• Jan. 28: A robbery/vandalism in the area of Monterey Road and Senter Road in San José. The suspect intentionally rear-ended the victim and stole the victim’s personal property.
• Jan. 28: Later the same day, a robbery and vandalism occurred in the 1900 block of The Alameda. The suspect intentionally rear-ended the victim and stole the victim’s personal property.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Detective Van Brande #4542 of the San José Police Robbery Unit via email: 4542@sanjoseca.gov or at 408-277-4166.

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