Suspects arrested for armed robbery and stolen property

Published on July 14, 2025

Menlo Park, Calif. – On June 11, 2025, at approximately 1:56 p.m., Menlo Park Police Department Officers responded to the 500 block of Pope Street in the City of Menlo Park on the report of an armed robbery. The victims were identified as two juvenile residents of San Jose, California. Upon further investigation, Officers learned the victims had been communicating with the suspect through the Facebook Marketplace selling application and had arranged to meet for a sale of clothing on the 600 block of Pope Street. Upon the victims meeting the suspect, the suspect brandished a handgun, stole the clothing items, and fled the scene. The armed suspect was described as a 16-17 year old Hispanic male, last seen wearing a balaclava-style ski mask.

Detectives from the Menlo Park Police Department conducted a neighborhood canvass to gather video surveillance footage, which led to the development of investigative leads. Detectives followed these leads and identified the suspect vehicle as a white Chevrolet Silverado double cab pickup truck. Utilizing Flock Safety license plate reader data and the information provided by witnesses revealed the suspect vehicle was registered to a person in East Palo Alto.

Later the same day, Detectives observed the suspect vehicle and conducted a traffic enforcement stop. The driver of the suspect vehicle was identified as 22 year old, East Palo Alto resident David TorresVasquez. Sitting in the front passenger seat of the suspect vehicle was a juvenile resident of East Palo Alto. Both TorresVazquez and the juvenile passenger were observed wearing the clothing stolen during the armed robbery.

TorresVasquez and the juvenile passenger were placed under arrest for being in violation of 211 PC-Robbery, 182 (a)(1) PC-Conspiracy to commit a crime, and 496 (a) PC-Possession of stolen property. TorresVasquez was booked into the San Mateo County Jail, and the juvenile passenger was booked into Hillcrest Juvenile Hall for the above mentioned charges.

The Menlo Park Police Department remains committed to the ensuring safety and security of all residents and appreciates the ongoing cooperation.

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Contact:
Detective Marcial Barron-Villa
mbarron-villa@menlopark.gov
650-330-6341