Cottonwood AZ (November 25, 2014) – UPDATE – Based on investigative leads developed over the last few days, detectives from the Criminal Investigations Bureau were able to identify the Garcia’s Market robbery suspect as 29-year-old Jason Bunescu from Cottonwood. This morning, detectives located Bunescu at Yavapai College in Clarkdale and arrested him without incident. Bunescu is also on active probation and subsequent to his arrest, detectives completed a probation search of his home. During the search, detectives located a quantity of heroin and a large amount of stolen jewelry which has been linked to an area burglary still under investigation.
The suspect vehicle, a dark green 1998 4-door Jeep with handicapped plates, was also found. The passenger was not involved.
Bunescu was booked on charges including Robbery, Theft, Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Possession of Narcotics and Burglary. Bond has been set at $50,000.
YCSO would like to thank media outlets for publishing the initial information quickly as it generated lots of phone calls to detectives.
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Cottonwood AZ (November 18, 2014) – On November 17, 2014, just before 4 PM, a suspect entered Garcia’s Market, located at the corner of State Highway 89A (3500 block) and Zalesky Road, Bridgeport, and committed a robbery. The suspect walked behind the checkout counter and held a knife to an employee’s waist and demanded money. It appeared to the victim the suspect had intentionally waited until there were no customers inside the store before approaching.
The employee complied and handed over cash, mostly in 20 dollar denominations, to the suspect who then left the store in a 1990’s model, forest green, Jeep Cherokee four door vehicle which displayed a handicapped license plate. The suspect is described as a white male, in his 30’s, 5’ 10” tall, 170 pounds, blond hair, possibly having blue eyes, wearing a white “hoody” type jacket, dark colored baggy pants, and a dark colored baseball cap. The jacket displayed some type of lettering which the victim was unable to recognize. The suspect was last seen driving towards Cottonwood. The suspect vehicle contained a passenger who appeared 50-years-of-age with short dark hair.
The victim was not injured. Another employee who was inside the store during the robbery was interviewed as a potential witness.
Deputies and neighboring police agencies searched the area but were not able to locate the suspect or vehicle. Crime scene technicians arrived to gather evidence.
If anyone has information regarding the suspect and/or suspect vehicle, please contact the Sheriff’s Office at 928-771-3260. Callers can also contact Yavapai Silent Witness at 1800-932-3232 and remain anonymous. A cash reward is offered only to callers who contact Silent Witness directly.
Citizens can contact the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office with information or questions at 928-771-3260 or the YCSO website: www.ycsoaz.gov