Santa Rosa police: Rincon Valley park robbery involved acquaintances

Two armed robberies in Santa Rosa remained under investigation Tuesday by police detectives, including a reported Sunday heist at a Rincon Valley park involving people who knew each other, according to a Santa Rosa police sergeant.

The 23-year-old victim initially told police he hadn’t known the two men he said accosted him Sunday afternoon in a bathroom at Rincon Valley Community Park.

He said the men threatened him at gunpoint, hit him with a gun, and demanded his cellphone and wallet.

Later, the victim told police he knew one of the men and offered a first name and possible address in west Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa police Sgt. Josh Ludtke said Tuesday.

“Some of the information originally provided by the victim has changed. We believe the victim and suspects probably knew each other,” Ludtke said.

Detectives on Tuesday were looking for the suspects.

Detectives on Tuesday also continued looking into Thursday’s report of an armed robbery in the Coddingtown parking lot and were seeking surveillance video.

A manager of a shopping mall store told police he was taking a bag containing $600 cash plus checks to a nearby bank for deposit when he was robbed at gunpoint.

The manager said he was getting out of his vehicle before walking to the bank when he was approached by a man asking for a cigarette.

The manager said he was getting the cigarette when the stranger grabbed for the bag and pulled out a gun.

The manager said he handed over the bag and the robber ran, Ludtke said.

The manager called for help at 12:20 p.m.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 707-521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter@rossmannreport.