Mckinney Courier-gazette > News
Collin County serial robbery suspect arrested
By Anthony Tosie, atosie@starlocalnews.com
The McKinney Police Department has arrested a man in connection with at least five recent aggravated robberies in Collin County.
Shortly after 10 p.m. on Friday, McKinney police and members of the U.S. Marshals arrested Benjamin Anthony Sanchez, 59, at the Value Place motel, located at 3401 North Central Expressway.
The Value Place motel is located less than four miles from a U.S. Post Office in McKinney where police say Sanchez attempted to rob an elderly couple at gunpoint.
Kim Malolepszy, a deputy chief for the McKinney Police Department, said Sanchez was arrested without incident after McKinney police received a tip.
"Someone saw him on the news and happened to send in a tip the day we arrested him," Malolepszy said. "We greatly appreciate all the help the community's provided in aiding this arrest -- the tipster really made it possible."
So far, McKinney police have submitted paperwork to the Collin County District Attorney's Office to charge Sanchez in three of the robberies, Malolepszy said. Those incidents are the aggravated robberies of two Cash Now stores in McKinney as well as a McKinney Subway restaurant.
The other two incidents -- aggravated robberies at the U.S. Post Office in McKinney and at a Frisco Costco -- are still being investigated for potential charges.
In all five robberies, Sanchez is said to have brandished a handgun.
McKinney police contacted the U.S. Marshals for additional help in the arrest when they learned of Sanchez's location.
"We have several detectives who are deputized marshals -- so they're on that task force that helped us," Malolepszy said. "But the other members on that task force come in and help us when we have felony suspects. They help us with intelligence issues across the board as well."
McKinney police are coordinating with the Frisco Police Department in relation to the robbery of the Frisco Costco. That incident took place at about 10:44 a.m. on Oct. 31.
"We're currently working leads to develop more information in our case and have remained in contact with the McKinney Police Department," Sgt. Brad Merritt of the Frisco Police Department said. "Hopefully within the next few days we'll have more information to share, but we haven't talked to the suspect yet."
Sanchez is currently being held in the Collin County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bonds for two counts of aggravated robbery.
Shortly after 10 p.m. on Friday, McKinney police and members of the U.S. Marshals arrested Benjamin Anthony Sanchez, 59, at the Value Place motel, located at 3401 North Central Expressway.
The Value Place motel is located less than four miles from a U.S. Post Office in McKinney where police say Sanchez attempted to rob an elderly couple at gunpoint.
Kim Malolepszy, a deputy chief for the McKinney Police Department, said Sanchez was arrested without incident after McKinney police received a tip.
"Someone saw him on the news and happened to send in a tip the day we arrested him," Malolepszy said. "We greatly appreciate all the help the community's provided in aiding this arrest -- the tipster really made it possible."
So far, McKinney police have submitted paperwork to the Collin County District Attorney's Office to charge Sanchez in three of the robberies, Malolepszy said. Those incidents are the aggravated robberies of two Cash Now stores in McKinney as well as a McKinney Subway restaurant.
The other two incidents -- aggravated robberies at the U.S. Post Office in McKinney and at a Frisco Costco -- are still being investigated for potential charges.
In all five robberies, Sanchez is said to have brandished a handgun.
McKinney police contacted the U.S. Marshals for additional help in the arrest when they learned of Sanchez's location.
"We have several detectives who are deputized marshals -- so they're on that task force that helped us," Malolepszy said. "But the other members on that task force come in and help us when we have felony suspects. They help us with intelligence issues across the board as well."
McKinney police are coordinating with the Frisco Police Department in relation to the robbery of the Frisco Costco. That incident took place at about 10:44 a.m. on Oct. 31.
"We're currently working leads to develop more information in our case and have remained in contact with the McKinney Police Department," Sgt. Brad Merritt of the Frisco Police Department said. "Hopefully within the next few days we'll have more information to share, but we haven't talked to the suspect yet."
Sanchez is currently being held in the Collin County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bonds for two counts of aggravated robbery.
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