Contra Costa Trio Arrested In North Bay 7-Eleven Robberies: Police

NAPA AND SOLANO COUNTIES, CA — Three suspects sought in connection with an armed robbery at 7-Eleven in Vacaville were arrested early Thursday when they tried to rob another 7-Eleven, police said.

The American Canyon Police Department got word around 1 a.m. Thursday about the Vacaville robbery. They were asked to be on the lookout for a red Chevy Impala that was just used in the Solano County armed robbery.

Officers were given descriptions of the suspects and a license plate number for the Impala and were told the car was last seen heading toward American Canyon.

ACPD officers began to look for the car in the city, and an officer found it parked on the side of the building at the 7-Eleven on Rio Del Mar and Highway 29. No one was in the car but the officer could see the described suspects inside the store, and it appeared another robbery was in progress, American Canyon police said.

While waiting for backup, the officer put a tire deflation device under the Impala in an attempt to prevent the suspects from leaving. The suspects soon walked out of the 7-Eleven and encountered the officer outside watching them. As they tried to leave, the officer ordered all three suspects to stop and get on the ground.

One suspect, later identified as 19-year-old Younger Sampson of Antioch, complied with the orders and was immediately arrested.

The other two suspects, later identified as 19-year-old Jaharri Wheatley of Antioch and 20-year-old Deavion Ivory of Antioch, fled on foot, running away, police said.

An officer who was just getting to the scene saw Wheatley reach into his waistband as if he was grabbing a gun. As officers kept chasing Wheatley and Ivory on foot, Wheatley was able to circle back to his car, kick away the tire deflation device, and drive off, police said.

Ivory was found hiding in a creek near the 7-Eleven and was arrested.

As Wheatley continued driving southbound through the city, a pursuit started. American Canyon officers, Napa Sheriff's deputies and a California Highway Patrol helicopter chased Wheatley until he crashed the Impala into a center median on Flosden Road.

The agencies continued chasing Wheatley on foot when he ditched the car and took off. As Wheatley kept running from officers, American Canyon police K-9 Brick was deployed to apprehend him.

Wheatley actively resisted and struggled with Brick and with officers on the ground as they tried to detain him, police said. During the struggle, it is alleged that a loaded, unregistered firearm — a ghost gun — fell to the ground from Wheatley's hand. Wheatley reached for the gun but officers were able to get him into handcuffs before he could grab the gun and use it, police said.

Wheatley was medically treated, then booked into Napa County jail on suspicion of five felony charges related to the incident.

The other two suspects— Ivory and Sampson — were turned over to the Vacaville Police Department along with items found in the car related to the armed robbery at the Vacaville 7-Eleven.