5 arrested in Moses Lake robbery

MOSES LAKE - Five Quincy residents who allegedly robbed a Moses Lake convenience store were arrested after law enforcement tracked down their vehicle in Quincy.

Miguel Martinez, 18, and four teenage boys, ages 14, 15, 16 and 17, were arrested recently and booked into the Grant County Juvenile Detention Center on suspicion of first-degree robbery, according to information released Tuesday by Moses Lake Police Capt. Dave Sands. Additional charges could be added.

Just before 5 a.m. Sunday, three of the suspects allegedly entered Adi Food Mart in the 1600 block of West Broadway Avenue and demanded money from the clerk, according to Sands. The suspects reportedly displayed a firearm and provided a bag for money. They also demanded a carton of cigarettes.

After retrieving the money and cigarettes, the suspects allegedly ran from the store to a waiting vehicle parked behind the business. A passerby heading to work saw the suspects and called in the license plate to emergency dispatch as a suspicious vehicle, according to Sands.

Quincy police officers and Grant County deputies found the suspected vehicle as it entered Quincy. The suspects were transported to the Moses Lake Police Department and the vehicle was impounded for a search warrant, according to Sands.

During the search, investigators found a backpack with cash and cigarettes, Sands said. A .22 automatic handgun and knife were also recovered.

During the investigation, officers discovered the suspects had been allegedly attempting to rob residents in Wenatchee, then came to Moses Lake to rob the convenience store. Identification from a victim in Wenatchee was found in the suspect's vehicle.

"The Moses Lake Police Department would like to thank the witness who was alert to the suspicious activity and took the time to not only call dispatch, but also obtained a license plate that made the quick apprehension of the suspects possible," Sands said. "This is a great example of citizens and law enforcement working together to make Moses Lake a safer community."

The Moses Lake Police Department encourages all citizens to report suspicious activity to dispatch at either 911 or 509-762-1160 for a non-emergency.