Men held after armed robbery at poker game nets $30K, police say

SAN JOSE >> A pair of men allegedly stole cash and property from a poker game at a San Jose home, leading to a two-months long investigation that ended when a suspect attempting to flee police instead fell through a ceiling, according to authorities.

San Jose police said that they responded to reports of an armed robbery at a home on the 4000 block of Ambrose Court on May 4. A poker game involving more than 10 people was taking place inside when two armed, masked men broke through a rear sliding-glass door and entered the residence.

The suspects allegedly demanded that the victims get down on the floor and sent one to retrieve cash from a bedroom. The two men, both 39 years old and residents of San Jose, departed the home with stolen property and more than $30,000 in cash, police said.

One victim was pistolwhipped in the head during the encounter.

With the help of a police dog, one of the suspects was arrested that night. Police said they identified the other suspect during the investigation, but they did not specify how he was linked to the crime.

The other suspect was located at a home in San Jose on July 26, according to authorities. The man refused orders to exit the home and instead barricaded himself inside. Two children were inside the home with him at the time.

The man eventually attempted to flee the scene through an attic space; instead, he fell through the ceiling and into the shower area of an adjacent apartment unit, according to police.

The suspect negotiated with police and eventually surrendered without further incident. The two children were safely recovered from the initial apartment.

The two men were booked on suspicion of robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and kidnapping, per police.

Anyone with information about these cases or similar cases is asked to contact Detective Contreras at the San Jose Police Robbery Unit via email: 4570@sanjoseca.gov or 408-277-4166.