Scar helps detectives identify suspect in Santa Rosa convenience store robbery

A distinctive scar helped detectives identify a man suspected in a weekend armed robbery at a Larkfield convenience store, Sonoma County sheriff’s officials said.

Detectives suspect Peter Miranda, 21, of Windsor, burst into the Fast & Easy Mart store on Old Redwood Highway near Airport Boulevard in north Santa Rosa about 12:30 a.m. Sunday, Sgt. Spencer Crum said. The man had a white T-shirt tied around his face and held what appeared to be a revolver.

He pointed the gun at the clerk, took cash from the register and left, according to Crum.

Surveillance video showed the distinctive scar on his head, leading detectives to suspect Miranda was the gun-wielding robber. About 18 hours later, detectives found Miranda behind the wheel of a gray Nissan Altima and pulled him over. They found a replica firearm, cash and clothing like the kind depicted in the surveillance video in the car, Crum said.

Miranda was booked into the Sonoma County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail on suspicion of robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. He appears in court Tuesday.

You can reach Staff Writer Julie Johnson at 707-521-5220 or julie.johnson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @jjpressdem.