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Beer run turns into robbery
Ceres Cop Car

Three teenagers who allegedly stole beer from the Dollar General store at 940 E. Whitmore Avenue on Thursday evening were arrested for robbery since the group had assaulted two employees who chased after them.

A total of four suspects were involved in the beer theft, which was reported at 10:30 p.m.

Ceres Police Department spokesman Sgt. Keith Griebel said four males entered the store, and grabbed a total of two 30-pack of Budweiser and two 18-pack of beer. The four bypassed the check stand to leave the store but were chased down Malik Avenue by two employees. At one point the suspects turned on the clerks and threw cans of beer at them in an attempt to stop them from pursuing. One employee was struck by a piece of concrete thrown at her, said Sgt. Griebel. Another pulled a knife and threatened to stab her.

Police were given a good description of the teens and a red four-door Pontiac linked to them. Sgt. Darren Venn located the car and found two of the underage robbery suspects inside. The third suspect was found hiding in a shed at 1157 Moonlight Drive.

The fourth suspect was not located.

Sgt. Griebel said the suspects were positively identified by the store clerks. Two of the suspects were 16 and the other was 17. Their names were not released because of a state law protecting the identities of minors charged with crimes.

All three were each booked into Juvenile Hall on charges of robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and conspiracy to commit a crime.

Griebel said the stolen beer was recovered.