Second robbery suspect arrested Tuesday

MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake police reportedly found the clothing worn by the alleged suspect in the Nov. 11 armed robbery inside his vehicle.

Daniel N. Gazca, 18, of Moses Lake, was arrested Tuesday afternoon at a home in the 800 block of West Fourth Avenue. Prosecutors charged Gazca with first-degree robbery with a deadly weapon in connection to an armed robbery at a West Broadway Avenue convenience store.

On Saturday, a witness told officers a revolver similar to the one used in the robberies was seen in a room at the Lakeshore Motel.

Officers found three people inside the room, including Gazca. The revolver was located wrapped in a towel in the toilet, according to the police report. Officer later discovered the gun was reported stolen from Texas. Officers also reportedly found a large amount of heroin inside the hotel room.

Officers also searched Gazca's Chevy Tahoe parked outside and found a gray beanie, gray and black bandana, white athletic gloves, a dark Carhartt style jacket, blue athletic shorts and Nike shoes, according to reports. Officers determined the clothing matched the clothing observed in surveillance footage of the Nov. 11 robbery at JR's Economart.

According to reports, both Gazca and Cruz Vasquez, 20, met up Nov. 12 and had been staying at the Sunland Motor Inn. Cruz was arrested last week and charged with two counts of first-degree robbery with a deadly weapon. Vasquez also denied he was involved in the robberies, according to previous reports.

Someone in the hotel room said Gazca had a large amount of cash with him the night of Nov. 11. The person in the room also said Vasquez and Gazca were together on both nights of the robberies.

Officers spoke with a witness Monday who said two males pulled up to the hotel in a white sedan with no lights on, later identified as a Volkswagon Jetta.

In an interview with detectives Saturday, Gazca denied he was the suspect of the Nov. 11 robbery, adding he was in the getaway car, the Jetta, during the robbery, and another man had gone inside with Vasquez.

Video surveillance from a private home on West Marina Drive reportedly showed a similar vehicle driving by shortly after the robbery.

The man Gasza accused of being involved in the robbery was reportedly too tall to match the description of the suspect seen in surveillance footage, according to police reports.

Gazca was arrested at a home on Fourth Avenue Tuesday. According to police reports, Gazca's mother told officers he called her previously to pick the Chevrolet Tahoe up from the Lakeshore Motel as soon as possible.

The Volkswagon Jetta was found parked at the Gazca residence Tuesday.

Anyone with more information on the robberies of convenience stores on South Pioneer Avenue and West Broadway Avenue is asked to contact Sgt. Brian Jones or Detective Matt Fulbright at 509-764-3887.