Amador County – Amador County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a Livingstone man for armed robbery of two customers who were leaving the Jackson Rancheria Casino early last Saturday, March 3.

Amador County Undersheriff Jim Wegner released details of the investigation and arrest Tuesday, saying that Anthony Vincent Soria, 25, of Livingstone, was detained in a “high risk manner” on Highway 49 after reportedly robbing two customers who were leaving the Casino. Soria was arrested and charged with robbery, assault with a firearm and possession of a concealed, loaded firearm. He was booked into Amador County Jail, with bail set at $50,000.

On March 3, at about 3:20 a.m., Amador Sheriff’s Department received a 9-1-1 call reporting that a suspect had brandished a firearm at two subjects near the entrance to the casino. The caller said the suspect fled heading west on Ridge Road in a blue Ford Mustang and the victims were attempting to follow the suspect in a black Honda, Wegner said. An Amador County sheriff’s deputy and Sutter Creek Police officer contacted the victims at the intersection of Ridge Road and Highway 49.

The victims said they had been gambling at the casino, and upon leaving, they came upon a blue Mustang, occupied by a Hispanic male, stopped on New York Ranch Road. “The occupant reported his vehicle was disabled. The victims assisted the male with pushing his vehicle off the roadway and then with starting the vehicle.”

The victims said the “suspect then drew a handgun, pointed it at the victims, and demanded money.” They said the suspect took between $500 and $600 dollars from them, as well as a driver’s license. They tried to follow the suspect vehicle, and said it may have turned north on Highway 49.

The Sutter Creek Police officer stayed with the victims while two Sheriff’s deputies checked Highway 49 for the suspect vehicle. Wegner said the suspect in the suspect vehicle was located traveling north on Highway 49 near Highway 16, and the vehicle was stopped in a high risk manner by deputies on Highway 16 near Highway 124, with assistance by a California Highway Patrol officer.

Soria was detained at the scene of the stop, Wegner said. A search of his vehicle “revealed a loaded handgun, $600 dollars in U.S. currency, the victim’s driver’s license, and clothing he was reported to be wearing at the time of the robbery.”

The victims were transported to the scene and positively identified Soria as the suspect that robbed them at gunpoint.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.