On January 12, 2016, at approximately 1:20 PM, a citizen who had viewed one of the news broadcasts associated with the gas station robbery from January 11, 2016, was driving in the City of Covina and observed a vehicle matching the suspect's vehicle driving in the area. The witness contacted the Covina Police Department and responding officers located the vehicle in the 1400 block of W. Bridger. The officers contacted the occupants of the vehicle, one of which resembled the description of the suspect depicted in the stabbing of the store clerk. The two other occupants of the vehicle were females, one of which resembled the description of the female seen exiting the suspects vehicle, just prior to the stabbing and robbery attempt.
The male suspect, later identified as Frank Ponce-Deleon, (54 year old resident of La Puente) was subsequently taken into custody on unrelated drug charges and transported to the Covina Police Department for booking. While in custody, Covina PD Detectives were able to obtain information and evidence linking S/Ponce-Deleon to the stabbing and was additionally charged with Investigation of Assault With a Deadly Weapon (245 PC) and Attempted Robbery (664/211 PC). S/Ponce-Deleon is being held on $100,000 bail pending his arraignment at Citrus Superior Court in West Covina on January 14, 2016.
Any information or questions regarding this crime, please contact the Covina Police Department Detective Bureau at (626) 384-5620, the Watch Commander at (626) 384-5665, or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477). Refer to Covina PD case #16-01032.
