Banning Police Arrest Suspect in May 29 Shopping Basket Armed Robbery

Banning police served a search warrant Thursday morning in Highland and arrested a man on suspicion of robbing the Shopping Basket market on West Ramsey Street on May 29, police announced Thursday afternoon.

The search warrant was served at 7 a.m. at 26672 9th St., #151, in Highland, police said in a statement.

The Banning police Detective Bureau, the Emergency Tactical Unit, and the San Gorgonio Special Operations Gang Task Force took part in the warrant service, police said.

The armed robbery at the Shopping Basket was reported at 6:23 p.m., Sunday, May 29, at 2217 W. Ramsey St. in Banning, police said.

A black or Hispanic male entered the market with a black, semi-automatic handgun, and demanded money from the owner, police said.

The suspect took about $3,000 in cash, as well as business or personal checks, and fled in a silver or gold compact vehicle, police said.

He was described as 5 feet 3 inches to 5 feet 5 inches tall, 120 to 130 pounds, with a black goatee-style beard, police said. He was wearing blue jeans and a black hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled over his face, police said.

Investigators learned of a possible suspect and a location where he was residing, and secured the search warrant they executed Thursday morning in Highland.

The suspect was identified as Jose Luis Martinez, 18. He was arrested during the warrant service and later confessed to the armed robbery, police said.

Martinez was booked at Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility on suspicion of armed robbery, Banning police Sgt. Alex Diaz said in a phone interview.

Prior to booking, Martinez was taken to San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital in Banning for treatment of stab wounds he sustained in a recent fight, Diaz said.

Anyone with further information about the robbery was urged to call Banning police detectives at (951) 849-1196.