GPS Tracks Marin Lottery Ticket Heist Suspect: Cops

SAN RAFAEL, CA — A North Bay parolee accused of stealing lottery tickets Wednesday during a downtown San Rafael gas station robbery has been arrested, police said.

William Alfred Kennedy Jr., 43 of Petaluma, was arrested in Richmond on suspicion of robbery and a parole violation, the San Rafael Police Department said.

Officers at around 2:20 p.m. on Wednesday responded to the report of a robbery in the area of Second and D streets, police said.

Kennedy threatened the gas station’s convenience store clerk, saying he had a gun, according to police.

The clerk cooperated with Kennedy, who got away with lottery tickets among other unspecified items of value.

After a description of Kennedy was broadcast to surrounding law enforcement agencies, Petaluma police notified the Marin agency that it was seeking a suspect who matched the description in connection with a March 19 Sonoma County robbery.

“With the assistance of Petaluma Police and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), SRPD was informed that Kennedy was on parole and was wearing a GPS monitor as part of the terms of his parole,” police said in a statement.

“Using the GPS information, Kennedy was located and arrested in the 900 block of Cutting Boulevard in Richmond. Kennedy was in possession of the stolen items from the gas station robbery.”

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the San Rafael Police Department at (415) 485-3000 or by using the agency’s online anonymous tip form.