The Santa Monica Police Department also announced the arrests of two armed robbery suspects.
On June 9, detectives took into custody Sergio Abrego, of Palmdale, for armed robbery, residential burglary, and parole violation. Abrego, 23, was arrested in connection with an armed robbery that occurred on May 29 in the 200 block of Bay Street. Evidence recovered at the residential burglary lead to the identification of Abrego.
Six days later, detectives received information regarding a robbery suspect that was in custody by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Apparently, the suspect was arrested in an in-progress robbery at a Walgreen’s Drug Store in Lakewood, California.
Santa Monica detectives spoke to the suspect, who is identified as Cecil Jerome Darby, of Los Angeles. During the interview, Darby made statements implicating himself in the robbery of a Santa Monica Walgreen’s on June 1, in the 1900 block of Wilshire Boulevard.
On June 23, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed 13 felony counts of armed robbery against Darby. The armed robberies were committed throughout the Los Angeles County area.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 1, 2006. Read the original PDF.