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PHOENIX - Through surveillance, investigative work and research, four men were arrested for their alleged roles in Phoenix armed robberies.
The suspects are identified as:
- 23-year-old Josue Rafael Colon Rodriguez
- 23-year-old Darol Daniel Garcia Santana
- 23-year-old Scarlyn Lebron Ogando
- 26-year-old Ronnie Baez
The backstory:
The first armed robbery happened on Sept. 29 of this year just before 5 a.m., the Phoenix Police Department said.
"Three to four armed suspects with handguns and rifles forced their way into a residence through the front door and demanded money from the victims. During this incident, one of the suspects grabbed a 10-year-old girl by her hair and pointed a handgun at her, forcing her around the house for approximately 30 minutes," Phoenix Police Sgt. Lorraine Fernandez said.
The next incident happened on Oct. 8 at around 2:15 p.m. when a victim was approached at his front door by unknown men who were armed with handguns, demanding money. They forced their way in and began searching inside the home before detectives showed up.
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On Dec. 17, detectives, with the help of the South Mountain Precinct Neighborhood Enforcement Team, found and arrested the four men for their alleged roles in the robberies.
"Robbery detectives authored three search warrants. Each search warrant was executed by the Special Assignments Unit (SAU) at separate residences, resulting in the recovery of multiple pieces of evidence to include 5 rifles, over 10 handguns, ammunition and 7.5lbs of fentanyl," Sgt. Fernandez said.
Court documents show that Josue Rafael Colon Rodriguez is accused in one of the robberies.
Dig deeper:
Authorities released new details Friday regarding the two violent home invasions.
The suspects, several of whom previously signed contracts with Major League Baseball organizations, allegedly targeted homes where children were present. Prosecutors described the men as "very dangerous," noting that the crimes involved masks and firearms.
Phoenix Police Det. Paul Guerrero said the suspects spoke Spanish during the incidents and have ties to the Dominican Republic. While their specific status with professional teams remains under investigation, Guerrero confirmed all had been involved in organized baseball.
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Families held hostage by suspects during home invasions: PD
We're learning new details about two home invasions in south Phoenix. Police say some of the victims are children and some of the suspects are former minor league baseball players. FOX 10's Brian Webb reports.
"I was one of the first officers on scene on the second incident and I interviewed the young lady that was involved," Guerrero said. "It was a very traumatic event for her, and that’s why I think it’s very important to acknowledge that these guys are off the streets."
In court, defense attorneys argued for leniency, stating that one suspect had played for a Chicago Cubs rookie league affiliate and was not a high-earning athlete. However, the judge, citing a significant flight risk, set bonds in the hundreds of thousands of dollars and ordered the men to wear ankle monitors.
The suspects are accused of multiple felony charges, including kidnapping for ransom and armed robbery with a deadly weapon.