Suspect Arrested In Temecula Armed Robbery

TEMECULA, CA — A Moreno Valley man was arrested on suspicion of armed robbery and other weapons-related charges, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department announced.

Deputies from the department's Southwest station responded to a business in the 27000 block of Jefferson Avenue in Temecula at around 1:10 a.m. on May 3 regarding an armed robbery report.

They found that the suspect allegedly entered the business and pointed a handgun at the front desk attendant while demanding money from the registers. The suspect fled before their arrival.

Investigators used video surveillance and investigative leads to identify the suspect as 28-year-old Anthony Boatman. Boatman was located near the 225000 block of Belcanto Drive in Moreno Valley on Monday and was taken into custody during an unrelated incident, the sheriff's department reported.

Boatman was allegedly in possession of a stolen 9mm semi-automatic handgun when he was arrested, which deputies believe is the same gun used in the May 3 robbery.

A search warrant was issued for Boatman's vehicle and residence, where deputies reported finding several items of evidence including clothing allegedly worn by Boatman during the robbery.

He was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center and was being held on $1 million bail.

Anyone with additional information regarding the case was encouraged to contact Deputy Gordon Mitchell at 951-696-3419.

City News Service