ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECT ARRESTED
DATE: February 26, 2020
LOCATION: 1200-Block Great Mall Drive
CASE #: 20-057-070
VICTIM 1: Female, 31-year-old, Union City resident
VICTIM 2: Male, 22-year-old, San Jose resident
SUSPECT 1: Andy Nguyen, 19-year-old, San Jose resident
SUSPECT VEHICLE: 2012 Toyota Camry, Silver in color
On February 26, 2020 at 12:09 P.M., an armed robbery occurred in the parking lot of Dick’s Sporting Goods, located at 1200 Great Mall Drive. The suspect confronted a female victim in the parking lot and forcibly attempted to take her purse. During a struggle for the purse, the suspect pointed a gun at the victim and stole the purse. The suspect got into a silver Toyota Camry to flee the area, when a male witness attempted to intervene and stop the suspect. The suspect pointed a gun at the witness, who ran away for his own safety. Luckily, neither victim was injured by the armed suspect. However, the suspect was able to flee from the Great Mall prior to our officers arriving.
The Milpitas Police Department received multiple calls regarding the armed robbery. Callers provided a suspect and suspect vehicle description with a license plate number. One of the calls was from a witness who followed the suspect vehicle as it fled from the scene, but eventually lost sight of it.
Detectives immediately responded to an address in the City of San Jose, where the suspect vehicle was registered. As Detectives were conducting surveillance on the residence, they observed Andy Nguyen driving the silver Toyota Camry, which matched the description provided by witnesses, through the neighborhood. Detectives observed Nguyen standing outside of Toyota Camry and discarding what appeared to be the victim’s belongings into a dumpster. Detectives conducted a high-risk car stop on the 1700-block of Rock Spring Drive in San Jose. Nguyen was taken into custody at approximately 12:59 P.M. Detectives located a loaded 9mm non-serialized modified semi-automatic pistol within his pant pocket.
Nguyen was interviewed and later booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail for armed robbery, possession of a concealed firearm, possession of a loaded firearm, possession of an undetectable firearm, and brandishing a firearm.
The arrest of Andy Nguyen was not immediately released to our community, because the release of his image would have jeopardized other law enforcement agency investigations. Those other investigations have concluded, and we are now releasing information on this investigation and Andy Nguyen.
The Milpitas Police Department would like to thank the witnesses who quickly came forward and provided detailed information regarding the suspect and his vehicle. The information provided by witnesses and the quick response from our Detectives enabled us to take Nguyen into custody within 1-hour.
Anyone with additional information regarding this robbery incident or Andy Nguyen 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: March 12, 2020; 12:30 P.M.
