Armed Robbery at Menifee Walgreens

The Riverside County Sheriff announced today that the Walgreens drug store on the corner of Murrieta Rd and Newport Rd was robbed yesterday.

Someone came in brandishing a "simulated pistol", and used it rob the store of cash and several bottles of Vicodin. Here's the announcement...

On Monday, August 6, 2007, at about 7:50 pm, deputies from the Perris Station were dispatched to a robbery at the Walgreens store at 30251 Murrieta Road in Menifee. Employees at the store reported a male subject displayed a simulated black pistol and robbed them of several large bottles of Vicodin and cash.

Sheriff's Deputies began arriving at the store about a minute later and were told the suspect, later identified as Gustavo Sarabia Vargas, 45 years, of Perris, had just left in a green Nissan SUV. Deputies located the car a short distance away and tried to stop it. After Vargas refused to stop, a vehicle pursuit was initiated. Vargas led deputies on a pursuit at speeds of 60 to 80 miles per hour. During this time, Vargas' car collided with several traffic signs and eventually became disabled near Amhurst Court and Camden Way in Sun City. Vargas fled the car and was captured a short distance away. The Vicodin, cash and the simulated pistol were found with Vargas.

Vargas was booked at the Robert Presley Detention Center for 211 PC Robbery. The investigation is continuing and detectives are actively pursuing additional leads in this case. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Investigator Blanck of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department Perris Station at 951-210-1000.