Friday, Oct. 26, 2012

Suspect in robbery at the DMV is extradited

One of the suspects in the January armed robbery of the local Department of Motor Vehicles is back in Merced County.

Jason Moran, 20, of Stanislaus County, was extradited from Manassas, Va., where he was taken into custody last month. He was arrested on suspicion of the robbery and an unrelated assault.

Moran was being held in Virginia at the Prince William Adult County Detention Center but he was transported to Merced County Jail on Tuesday.

Part of the investigation into the DMV robbery included Los Banos police detectives flying to Virginia to interview Moran about his involvement in the incident.

Cmdr. Ray Reyna Jr. said pursuing suspects who flee the state is a challenge.

"It is a little more difficult when we have to fly out of state. We wouldn't have that cost otherwise," he said.

The DMV was robbed on Jan. 31 about 4:20 p.m. Witnesses said two men wearing black pants, black hooded sweaters and black ski masks entered the DMV office at 814 L St.

At least one of the men was armed with a gun. The robbers took an undisclosed sum of cash from employees. They were last seen running south from the building.

Reyna declined to state whether police have identified a second suspect.

"We're still investigating and we're asking the public to come forward with any information," he said.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Los Banos Police Department at (209) 827-7070.

To leave an anonymous crime tip, call (209) 827-7070, ext. 288. If you have access to a computer and the Internet, you can also leave an anonymous tip at the Police Department's webpage at www.losbanos.org. At the bottom of the "Contact" page, simply click on the "report graffiti and other crime" link.

Enterprise reporter Corey Pride can be reached by phone at 388-6563, or by e-mail at cpride@losbanosenterprise.com.

Enterprise reporter Corey Pride can be reached by phone at 388-6563, or by e-mail at cpride@losbanosenterprise.com.