Raleigh Police Working to Identify Attempted Rape Suspect

Shortly before 2:30 a.m. on June 18, a 22-year-old female reported that she was riding a bicycle westbound on Stafford Avenue and was approaching its intersection with Chamberlain Street.

She had noticed a small dark-colored SUV behind her as she traveled on Stafford, and the vehicle struck her bicycle’s rear tire just before she reached Chamberlain.

The suspect got out of the SUV and approached the victim, who was not injured. After a brief conversation, the suspect offered to take the victim to her residence She agreed, and the damaged bicycle was placed on top of the vehicle.

However, instead of taking the victim home, the suspect drove to her a short distance to Horse Track Alley off Clark Avenue. After parking the car, the suspect grabbed the victim and indicated that he intended to rape her. The victim fought loose and managed to get out of the vehicle. She hid nearby as the suspect fled, leaving the victim’s bicycle behind.

The suspect is described as a white male with a medium skin tone. He was said to be about 5 feet 7-8 inches tall and had a muscular build. He had brown eyes, dark facial hair, may be in his 20s to 30s, and was wearing the cap, shirt, and shoes seen in the photo.

As mentioned earlier, the suspect’s vehicle is dark colored and may be a Ford Escape, Jeep Liberty, or another similar four-door SUV. The vehicle has gray leather seats. It is not new but appeared to be in good shape.

Anyone who believes they may recognize the suspect is asked to call Raleigh CrimeStoppers at (919) 834-HELP or to go to the CrimeStoppers Web site at www.raleighcrimestoppers.org for instructions on reporting a tip on line or by text message. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for anonymous tips that help solve cases.

Suspect Charged in Yesterday's Bank Robbery

Raleigh Police Department detectives have charged Sean Elliot Whitaker (DOB 8/11/69) in connection with yesterday’s Wells Fargo Bank robbery. Whitaker was taken into custody this morning at a motel in the 6600 block of Glenwood Avenue. He was charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon and was transported to the Wake County Jail. Media coverage that included a surveillance photo taken during the crime led to a tip concerning Whitaker’s whereabouts.

Millbrook Road Bank Robbed

Shorty after 12:30 p.m. today, Raleigh Police Department officers and detectives responded to a robbery call at the Wells Fargo Bank at 3500 W. Millbrook Rd.

The unknown suspect seen in the attached surveillance photos passed a robbery note to a teller and implied he had a weapon. He was last seen fleeing on foot after the teller complied with the note’s demands.

The suspect is described as a black male approximately 35-40 years of age who stands about 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs an estimated 250 pounds. He was wearing the plain white t-shirt, blue jeans, white sneakers and dark colored baseball cap seen in the surveillance photos. The suspect also had thick, black-framed glasses and some facial hair.

Anyone who believes they may know the identity of the suspect or who may have other information that might assist the investigation is asked to either call Raleigh CrimeStoppers at (919) 834-HELP or to go to the CrimeStoppers Web site at www.raleighcrimestoppers.org for instructions how to report a tip on line or by text message. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for anonymous tips that help solve cases.

Raleigh Police Respond to Reported Shooting

At about 10 a.m. today, Raleigh Police Department officers and detectives responded to the 4900 block of Coolridge Court concerning a reported shooting.

It was determined that the 25-year-old male shooting victim had been transported to Duke Raleigh Hospital by a private vehicle. He was subsequently transferred to WakeMed by EMS. Neither the identity of the shooting victim nor his condition is not available at this time.

Follow-up investigation is continuing, and anyone with information that might assist those working on the case is asked to call Raleigh CrimeStoppers at (919) 834-HELP or to go to the CrimeStoppers Web site at www.raleighcrimestoppers.org to report a tip on line or by text message. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for anonymous tips that help solve cases.

Raleigh Police Seek Assistance Identifying Suspect in North Raleigh Robbery

Raleigh Police Department detectives are working to identify and arrest the suspect seen in the attached surveillance photos.

At about 10:15 p.m. on May 31, the suspect seen in the attached surveillance photos committed a robbery at Kroger Fuels at 6300 Creedmoor Rd. Armed with a handgun, the suspect approached the clerk as she was outside the station’s kiosk preparing to close. He forced her inside at gunpoint and took money from the register.

The suspect is a black male who may be in his 20s, stands approximately 5 feet 7-9 inches tall and weighs about 170 pounds. He was wearing the white mask, black baseball cap, dark-colored trousers and red hoodie seen in the surveillance photos. The back of the shirt has a design on it that appears to include a stylized bird.

Anyone who believes they may know the identity of the suspect is asked to call Raleigh CrimeStoppers at (919) 834-HELP or to go to the CrimeStoppers Web site at www.raleighcrimestoppers.org to report a tip on line or by text message. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for anonymous tips that help solve cases.

Raleigh Police Working to Identify Robbery Suspect

 Raleigh Police Department detectives are seeking the public’s assistance as they work to identify, locate and arrest the suspect seen in the attached surveillance photos.

Shortly before 10 p.m. on March 22 the suspect entered the Rite Aid store at 13300 Strickland Rd. Armed with a handgun, he robbed the business and was last seen fleeing on foot.

The suspect is described as a white male who was estimated to stand about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weigh about 180 pounds. The suspect had dark hair and the beard seen in the surveillance photos. He was wearing the dark colored jacket, blue jeans and tan boots, along with a dark-colored baseball cap with a large “C” on its front.

Anyone who believes they may recognize the suspect is asked to contact Raleigh CrimeStoppers at (91) 834-HELP or go to the CrimeStoppers Web site at http://raleighcrimestoppers.org/ to report a tip on line or by text message. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for tips that help solve cases.

Raleigh Police Attempting to Locate Driver of Hit-and-Run Vehicle

At approximately 1 a.m. on June 3 a bicyclist was struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Hillsborough Street and Ashe Avenue. The vehicle fled the scene and was last seen traveling on Ashe Avenue in the direction of Western Boulevard.

The investigating officer has determined that the suspect vehicle is likely a black 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala similar to the car pictured in the attached surveillance photo.

The vehicle should have some relatively minor damage to its right front quarter panel and perhaps the right front door. Also, the vehicle may have damage to the right hand rearview mirror housing or the mirror itself may be missing from the housing.

Anyone who believes they may have information about the suspect vehicle is asked to contact Raleigh CrimeStoppers at (919) 834-HELP or go to the CrimeStoppers Web site at http://raleighcrimestoppers.org/ to report a tip on line or by text message. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for tips that help solve cases.

Suspect Charged with Murder after April Shooting Victim Dies

At approximately 9:45 p.m. April 27, Raleigh Police Department officers responded to a shooting call in the 4900 block of Hollenden Drive. The victim, Nancy Margarita Pedraza, who sustained a gunshot wound to her neck was transported to WakeMed. The suspect, Anthony Lucas Villaroel (DOB 4/1/89), was taken in custody at the scene and was charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury. The victim and the suspect were in a girlfriend / boyfriend relationship, and the shooting occurred while the two were together in a vehicle.

UPDATE: On June 4, the victim died as a result of the wound she sustained on April 27. Warrants charging the suspect with murder were served on him at the Wake County Jail, where he had remained in custody since his arrest in April.

Suspects in 2002 Homicide Located, in Custody

At about 6:30 p.m. on February 24, 2002, Raleigh Police Department officers responded to a shots-fired call in the 1500 block of Crest Road. Initial investigation determined that a homicide had occurred at 1527-15 Crest Rd, and the body of the 27-year-old victim, Martin Herrera Sotelo, was located a short time later in a nearby dumpster.

The follow-up homicide investigation of the incident determined that three suspects had been involved in the crime, and warrants were obtained charging each of them murder. The three suspects were identified as:

•  Noel Monterrubio Garcia (DOB 10/22/69)
• Orlando Monterrubio Garcia (DOB 5/20/75); and,
• Tomas Serrano Garcia (DOB 9/22/70).

Efforts were made immediately to locate and arrest the three suspects; however, those efforts were not successful, and detectives received information that all three had likely fled the area.

In 2003, it was learned that Orlando Monterrubio Garcia had returned to Raleigh, and he was located and arrested.

On May 8, 2012, the detective to whom the Martin Herrera Sotelo homicide case is currently assigned received information that Tomas Serrano Garcia had been arrested in Forsyth County, Ga., and RPD detectives traveled there to follow up on the Raleigh homicide investigation.

While in Georgia the detectives worked with investigators with the Forsyth County Sherriff’s Department to successfully to locate the third suspect, Noel Monterrubio Garcia, and he was taken into custody there.

Noel Monterrubio Garcia arrived in Raleigh this afternoon and has been processed into the Wake County Jail. Tomas Serrano Garcia remains in custody in Georgia pending extradition.