Hollister police March 10 served two search warrants in Hollister that were related to a series of armed robberies of pharmacies that had been occurring over the last six months in town.
According to the HPD:
Rodolfo Duarte, 36 of Hollister, was arrested for those robberies and booked at the county jail as a result of those search warrants.
The first robbery occurred Aug. 29, 2016 at the Rite-Aid Pharmacy, 1701 Airline Highway. Then on Nov. 17 and again on December 27 at the ANSR Pharmacy, 581 McCray St. The final robbery occurred February 6 at Lucky Pharmacy, 251 McCray St.
Hollister Police detective personnel have been conducting extensive follow-up after each one of these incidents. Working with surveillance footage, employees of the Department of Motor Vehicles, and the motorcycle industry. HPD personnel and area law enforcement had been searching for a specific and identifiable motorcycle for some time.
On March 9, one of the investigators in the case was on their way home for the day and spotted the suspect motorcycle in town at a local repair shop. A search warrant was written and granted the next morning.
The search warrant was served by HPD patrol officers, school resource officers, and investigators on March 10. This search warrant revealed further evidence. That information led investigators to a house in the 1600 block of Valley View Road. Another search warrant was served at that location later that evening by Hollister Police officers, with the assistance of San Benito Sheriff’s deputies, San Benito County Probation, and members of the UNET Task Force.
Items located and at the residence tied the suspect, Duarte to the crimes. Duarte was located, arrested and interviewed, and then booked into the San Benito County Jail on four counts of Robbery and four counts of Burglary. His bail is set at $220,000.
Anyone with information regarding these investigations are requested to contact Detective Bo Leland at The Hollister Police Department at (831) 638-4115. Persons wishing to remain anonymous may call WeTip at (800) 78-CRIME. Information provided to WeTip may qualify for a reward.
