Suspect wanted in East Bay armed robberies arrested before leaving state
OAKLAND, Calif. (KTVU) - The armed robbery suspect wanted in a series of crimes around the East Bay has been caught.
The suspect, identified as 23-year-old Latif Taheer Amir Malik, was taken into custody by California Highway Patrol-Los Banos officers on Friday.
Authorities said Malik, who had long dreads when he committed the crime, cut his hair and was planning to leave the state before his arrest.
Malik was sought by Oakland police for his role in a brazen armed robbery in Oakland's Dimond district on Feb. 10.
Surveillance video shows him and another suspect walking up to a man on Damuth Street, and putting a gun to his head as he's washing his car.
The pair forced the man to the ground and took the victim's phone and jewelry.
Then hours later, Richmond police said Malik pulled a gun out on a man walking near San Pablo and Clinton avenues. He demanded the victim hand over his property and any cash, to which the man complied.
Authorities are working to determine if the suspect is also connected to a third armed robbery in Oakland that happened on the same day.
All three incidents occurred within a span of five hours.