Crime & Safety

Dumb Criminal Alert? Police Say Parolee Robs Winco, Leaves Behind Mail With Home Address

The man is accused of using a child to help him shoplift at a Hemet store and threatening to shoot before making his getaway— but he left behind a crucial element, police said.

A parolee suspected of using a child to help him shoplift at a Hemet store and tangling with security guards, whom he allegedly threatened to shoot before making his getaway, was being held without bail in Banning Friday.

Salvador John Barnes, 31, of Altadena was arrested Thursday night and booked into the Smith Correctional Facility on suspicion of robbery, gang activity and parole violations.

According to Hemet police Sgt. Jeff Davis, Barnes went into the Winco Foods at 4602 Florida Ave.  with a young boy around 7:30 p.m., grabbed several items and allegedly headed out of the supermarket without paying for the goods.

When security guards attempted to detain Barnes, he resisted and "gestured he had a gun," Davis alleged. The security guards backed off "fearing Barnes would shoot them, according to the sergeant.

"Barnes fled, but left an article of mail that listed a local address," he said, adding that the man took the child with him when he ran.

The officer who found the piece of mail went to the location listed, a house in the 1900 block of East Devonshire Avenue, and spotted Barnes and the child inside, Davis said.  He then called for backup.

When the officers knocked on the door, the parolee fled out the back door but only got a short distance before the patrolmen caught him, according to Davis.

He said the suspect had an outstanding warrant for his arrest out of Los Angeles County.

The suspect's relationship to the boy, who was taken into protective custody, was not revealed.

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—City News Service contributed to this report.

Find out what's happening in Banning-Beaumontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.


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