MCSO detectives arrest five suspects involved in a series of violent robberies.
One suspect was wearing an D-H-S ankle monitor.
A group of young men responsible for a number of violent street robberies in the Golden Gate (Salerno) area have been arrested and charged.
At least 6-victims report being violently attacked, robbed and beaten by the suspects. The victims told detectives that one of the suspects had a gun, and threatened to kill their families if they called police. Detectives retrieved two guns, which turned out to be BB guns.
The suspected leader of the group is identified as 18-year old Gerson Garcia-Hernandez.
Also arrested, 26-year old Hector Garcia-Godoy, and 19-year old Carlos Garcia-Paguada. Paguada is from Honduras. He was wearing an INS tracking device on his ankle when taken into custody. 17-year old Alberto Alvarez, and 16-year old Luis Francisco were also arrested and charged with robbery. The sixth suspect has been identified and detectives are working to arrest him. All men say they live in Stuart.
The reported attacks began in mid-January. The victims were all chosen at random as they walked down the street during the evening hours. Detectives fear that some victims may have been too afraid to report it. The suspects targeted Latin-American victims, mostly male. One of the victims was pistol whipped during the robbery. Three of the suspects are being held at the Martin County Jail, the two teenagers are being held at the juvenile detention center in Ft. Pierce.
Detectives have been in contact with immigration officials and will be following protocol in regards to Paguada, who recently came into the US illegally from Honduras. Immigration officials have also been notified about Garcia-Hernandez and Godoy, who cannot produce a social security numbers.
