Man charged in armed robbery of UPS facility
A judge on Tuesday ordered that the bond for a Yuma man arrested Thursday night after a robbery and a vehicle pursuit would remain at the $200,000 cashonly amount it had been set at during his previous court appearance.
During what was his arraignment hearing, 23-yearold Adrian Guzman was informed by Justice of the Peace Greg Stewart that the Yuma County Attorneys Office had reviewed the police reports from the case and were charging him with seven felony offenses.
“I found there is probable cause to detain you in this case,” Stewart said.
Attorney Richard Edgar, who was representing Guzman on behalf of attorney Michael Donovan, waived the formal reading of the complaint and the further advisement of his rights. He also asked to be heard on conditions of release.
Judge Stewart explained to Guzman that he been charged with five counts of aggravated assault, one count of armed robbery and one count of unlawful flight from pursuing law enforcement.
When bond was addressed, Edgar asked that Guzman’s bond be lowered substantially or that he be released to pre-trial service, a request that Judge Stewart denied.
In explaining his reason for doing so, Judge Stewart stated that the county attorney’s office had requested that the bond be increased, but since there was not a prosecutor in the courtroom he was denying that request also.
Lastly Judge Stewart scheduled a preliminary hearing for Guzman for 4 p.m. on June 11, but explained to him that his case would likely go before the grand jury within the next few days to determine if there was enough probable cause for it to proceed to Superior Court.
According to Yuma police, at approximately 8:25 p.m. last Thursday officers were sent to the UPS facility at 2851 S. Avenue 2½E in reference to a robbery.
Officers learned that two male subjects attempted to steal packages from the facility. During the incident, a handgun was also pointed at employees and the suspects left with several packages.
The suspects fled the scene in a dark passenger car. Witnesses, however, were also able to obtain the car’s license plate number.
Approximately 30 minutes later, officers spotted the vehicle in the area of Araby Road and 24th Street and attempted to pull it over, but the driver refused to stop.
A pursuit then ensued, during which stop sticks were deployed. The vehicle was eventually brought to a stop on the 16th Street exit ramp from Interstate 8, where officers performed a high-risk vehicle stop.
Guzman was the sole occupant of the vehicle and was taken into custody.
A second suspect is still outstanding. He is described as in his 30s, approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing approximately 150 pounds, last seen wearing a gray or black shirt.