Witness’s photos lead to arrests in robbery

A distress call came from Papa Murphy’s on St. Francis Drive around 1 p.m. Tuesday: The pizza place had just been robbed at knifepoint.

The robber came in wearing a mask, which fell off when he started speaking, the restaurant manager told police. The robber pulled a serrated knife as long as a ruler, the manager said, and demanded cash.

According to police reports, the man made off with about $150 in $1 and $5 bills. The heist was short-lived. A witness had seen a gold van pull into the Papa Murphy’s parking lot, according to police reports, and thought the passengers — two men and a woman — were acting strangely, so the witness started taking pictures of the van and its occupants.

Police, who had the van’s license plate, thanks to the witness’s photos, found the vehicle parked at the registered owner’s house. A large serrated knife was on the floor in the back of the van, reports say.

Officers interviewed the van owner, Cedric Sanchez, 25, and arrested both him and a colleague, Mercady Montoya, 26, on suspicion of armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and tampering with evidence in connection with the crime at Papa Murphy’s.

On Wednesday, police also arrested Jose Baca, 29, who they believe was involved in the robbery.

According to a news release from the Santa Fe Police Department, Baca is suspected in six other robberies around the area in recent months and was wanted on a warrant for a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.