Full Notification

On Tuesday, November 15th, 2015, Chula Vista Police issued a press release seeking the assistance of the public in identifying a suspect in at least five (5) robberies of two different donut shops. Police released photos and video at the time, including video showing the robbery of one female employee while her daughter was with her behind the counter (original CVPD press release below).

Links to news/youtube video from 2015 robbery:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOxCf6SeV_4
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk0BKRNclmo
• http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Chula-Vista-Broadway-Third-Avenue-Doughnut-Shop-Robberies-Video-351140111.html
• http://fox5sandiego.com/2015/11/17/video-shows-man-robbing-doughnut-shop/

On 12/28/16 Chula Vista Police arrested two suspects for multiple armed street robberies of juveniles (original press release below). One suspect’s fingerprints matched those collected from the scene of one of the 2015 donut shop robberies. That suspect, Nicholas Solorio (23 years old), who is currently in custody for the December 2016 robbery series, was fingerprinted as part of the booking process. Those prints were entered into the Automated Fingerprint Information System (AFIS) and a match was found for the 2015 donut shop robberies.

Detectives from the CVPD Crimes of Violence Unit, in coordination with the District Attorney’s Office, will re-arrest Solorio for (5) counts of robbery from the 2015 cases. Detectives also believe Solorio, from Arizona, is a suspect in at least one other robbery in that state and will coordinate with law enforcement there.

(Background: On 11/10/2015 police obtained fingerprint evidence from the Corner Donuts robbery where the suspect (later identified as Nicholas SOLORIO) simulated a gun and demanded money. The suspect fled the business with $40.

Chula Vista Patrol Officers, equipped with field fingerprint evidence recovery kits, recovered several latent prints after watching the security video to determine where the suspect had touched. Those prints were entered into AFIS, however at the time of the incident there were no matches for those prints).

Previous Press Releases(2):

Serial Street Robbery Suspects Arrested
Beginning on November 28, 2016, two suspects began a month-long string of five street robberies in the western area of Chula Vista. Each of the victims was walking alone on the street when the crime occurred. Three victims were juvenile males, one victim was a juvenile female and one victim was a 21-year-old female.

In each case, two suspects, described as heavy-set dark skinned males, possibly Hispanic or Pacific Islander, were associated with a red SUV. During the robberies, one of the males exited a red SUV, confronted the solo victim and demanded property while the driver stayed in the vehicle. Two of the armed robberies involved the threat of a gun and another involved the display of a knife. Losses include three cell phones, a wallet, cash and other property.

The last incident occurred on 12-27-16 at about 12:40 p.m. in the afternoon near Twin Oaks and I street in Chula Vista. The suspect exited a red SUV and grabbed a male juvenile by the hand and demanded his phone. The victim punched the suspect in the face and ran. The victim was able to give responding officers a Nevada license plate number, vehicle description and suspect description.

On 12-28-16, detectives from the Chula Vista Police Department Crimes of Violence Unit followed up on the information and arrested 23-year-old Nicholas Solorio and his cousin, 31-year-old Malaefono Sula for the series of five street robberies. During questioning, both suspects admitted being involved in the robberies. Both were transported to county jail on the below listed charges.

Date Case Location Victim Crime Type
11-28-16 16-17909 200 K Street 21 y/o female 211 P. C. Strong arm robbery
12-01-16 16-18068 1400 Tobias 17 y/o female 211 P.C. Robbery - threatened gun
12-02-16 16-18094 700 Fifth Avenue 16 y/o male 211 P.C. Robbery – Displayed knife 211
12-02-16 16-18110 100 Telegraph Canyon Road 16 y/o male 211 P.C. Robbery – threatened gun
12-27-16 16-19206 Twin Oaks and I Street 16 y/o male 664/211 P.C. Attempted strong arm robbery

The investigation is ongoing and detectives are requesting information from the public should there be additional witnesses or victims. Please contact the case agent, Crimes Of Violence Detectives at (619) 585-5664 if you have any further information regarding these cases.

Original CVPD Donut Shop Press Release:

Tuesday, November 15, 2015
Chula Vista Police Seek the Public’s Assistance in Identifying Donut Shop Robbery Suspect
• Suspect: Unknown White or Hispanic male
• Age: 22-28 Yrs Old
• Height/Weight: 5’10” to 6’1“ / 225-275 lbs
• Thin mustache
• Maroon hooded sleeveless Salisbury University (Maryland) sweatshirt, black baseball cap, black shorts, red shoes
• No vehicle seen
• Simulated handgun in jacket pocket
• Takes cash from the register


The Chula Vista Police Department’s Crimes of Violence Unit is investigating at least five (5) robberies at two (2) different donut shops over the last month. Police believe all robberies were committed by the same suspect shown in the attached photos. The suspect enters the donut shop and confronts the clerk while simulating a weapon in his jacket pocket. Once the register is open he takes all the cash and flees on foot. The most recent robberies occurred on the same day, Saturday, November 14th. On this day he struck both donut shops about 3 hours apart, one in the 600 block of Broadway at about 7:00 pm , the other in the 1000 block of Third Avenue at about 10:00 pm.

Anyone with information on this suspect please contact Chula Vista Police Department’s Crimes of Violence Unit at (619) 691-5075, or you may call the Chula Vista Police Non-Emergency Line at (619) 691-5151. If you wish to remain anonymous you may call (619) 422-Tips or visit the Chula Vista Police Department’s website and click on Help Solve A Crime: http://www.chulavistaca.gov/departments/police-department/programs/help-us-solve-a-crime