6th arrest made in gang-related armed robberies

The Coachella Police Department arrested another man suspected in a string of gang-related armed robberies that occurred in multiple locations within Coachella and Palm Desert, dating back to the summer of 2014.

The sheriff’s department said Noel Aguilar, 21, was arrested Wednesday in the 50000 block of Balboa Street on two counts of armed robbery and two counts of using a firearm in the commission of the robbery, which happened at the Circle K, located at 78005 Country Club Drive in Palm Desert, on December 8, 2014.

Deputies said someone at the business was also robbed of personal property at gunpoint during the robbery.

Aguilar was booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning. He’s the sixth person taken into custody in recent months after multiple valley businesses were targeted.

Two teenagers, both documented Coachella gang members, were arrested February 5 in connection to the Circle K robbery and two other robberies as well:

Maxcy’s Grill, located at 49405 Grapefruit, Coachella (two armed robberies on two separate occasions)
Swiss Donut, located at 49965 Harrison St, Coachella
Circle K convenience store, located at 78005 Country Club Drive, Palm Desert

Additional gang members who have been arrested in the string of robberies include:

Angel Alvarado, 18, arrested in October, 2014
Raul Barraza, 18, arrested in November, 2014
Benjamin Zaragoza, 21, arrested in January, 2015

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said all suspects arrested in these armed robberies are documented Coachella gang members.

Anyone with information regarding the investigation is asked to call Officer Quesada of the Coachella Police Department at 760-863-8990.