DATE: November 20, 2019
LOCATION: 1491 South Main Street - Jerry’s Deli
CASE #: 19-324-133
SUSPECT 1: Benjamin Mendez Jr., 18 year-old, San Jose resident
SUSPECT 2: Jose Rosales-Salas, 18 year-old, San Jose resident
SUSPECT 3: Christian Alexander Muniz, 19 year-old, San Jose resident
On November 20, 2019 at 8:20 P.M., an armed robbery occurred at Jerry’s Deli, located at 1491 South Main Street. Three suspects, one of which was armed with a firearm, entered the store and confronted the clerk. During the robbery, the suspects took an undisclosed amount of cash, tobacco products, alcohol, personal property from the clerk; and then fled from the store. Thankfully the clerk was not injured during the incident. Using security camera footage from the store, an informational bulletin was sent to regional law enforcement agencies seeking assistance in identifying the suspects.
On November 21, 2019, Milpitas Police Detectives received information from the San Jose Police Department identifying Benjamin Mendez Jr. as one of the three suspects pictured in the informational bulletin. The following day, Milpitas Police Detectives arrested Mendez in Los Gatos for this robbery and an unrelated $15,000 hit and run warrant. Mendez was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail for robbery, the hit and run warrant, and a $60,000 San Jose Police arrest warrant for attempted robbery. Subsequently, the Milpitas Police Department’s SWAT Team served a search warrant at Mendez’ residence in San Jose for evidence related to the Jerry’s Deli robbery.
Our detectives continued to meticulously follow-up on this investigation and were able to identify Jose Rosales-Salas and Christian Alexander Muniz as the other two suspects and obtained arrest warrants. On November 26, 2019, Rosales-Salas and Muniz were separately arrested by the San Jose Police Department in San Jose. Milpitas Police Detectives interviewed both suspects and they were later booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail for the Jerry’s Deli robbery and unrelated charges for the San Jose Police Department investigation.
The Milpitas Police Department continuously collaborates with regional law enforcement agencies and these relationships allowed us to identify these suspects. We would like to thank the San Jose Police Department for their assistance.
Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the Milpitas Police Department at (408) 586-2400. Additionally, the information can be given anonymously by calling the Crime Tip Hotline at (408) 586-2500 or via the Milpitas Police Department Website at: http://www.ci.milpitas.ca.gov/crimetip
Press Release By: Lieutenant John Torrez #209 Date/Time: December 9, 2019; 8:30 A.M.
