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Marijuana dispensary robbery in Pleasure Point leads to chase
[November 28, 2012]

Marijuana dispensary robbery in Pleasure Point leads to chase


Nov 29, 2012 (Santa Cruz Sentinel - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- PLEASURE POINT -- An armed robbery at a marijuana dispensary on Portola Drive Tuesday night led to a high-speed chase to Monterey County.

None of the three men who robbed the shop were apprehended, said Santa Cruz County sheriff's deputy April Skalland.

Three men arrived at Green Acres medical marijuana dispensary at 3912 Portola Drive about 8 p.m. One of the men had a gun, and all three wore baggy clothes and had their faces covered.

They demanded cash and marijuana, took the items and fled. Deputies said there were about two customers and at least one employee in the shop. No one was injured.

Seconds later, an employee saw a deputy drive by the shop and described the robbery. The suspects initially left in a Honda, then fled to another Honda in a donut shop parking lot about a block from the dispensary at 3791 Portola Drive.

Deputies chased the car south on Highway 1.

California Highway Patrol officers took over the chase, which reached 90 mph, said Skalland.

The driver fled to Salinas Road in Monterey County, then to Elkhorn and Hall roads. The chase continued to Hall and Sill roads just east of Las Lomas.

About 8:20 p.m., the car crashed near Miller and Overpass roads. Three men scattered.

CHP officers, Watsonville police and deputies from Santa Cruz and Monterey counties participated in a search. A Watsonville police K-9 also helped.



Officers found a large bag of marijuana and a beer bottle apparently thrown from the car off Highway 1 at Salinas Road.

No one has been arrested as of 1 p.m. Wednesday, Skalland said.


Deputies seized both Hondas. The first Honda was reported stolen from Watsonville, Skalland said.

No suspect descriptions have been released. Deputies are reviewing surveillance images from the shop.

"Their clothes were baggy and they didn't want to be seen by cameras," Skalland said.

The store was open for business on Wednesday.

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office asks anyone with information to call the investigations division at 454-2311 or the anonymous tipline at 454-5995.

Follow Sentinel reporter Stephen Baxter on Twitter at Twitter.com/sbaxter_sc ___ (c)2012 the Santa Cruz Sentinel (Scotts Valley, Calif.) Visit the Santa Cruz Sentinel (Scotts Valley, Calif.) at www.santacruzsentinel.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

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