Santa Rosa man charged with armed robbery in theft of stereo speakers

A Santa Rosa man has been charged with armed robbery in the theft of stereo speakers from a man who was selling them from his car.

However, prosecutors declined to press charges against two Santa Rosa men arrested during the incident. Assistant District Attorney Christine Cook said there was insufficient evidence to pursue charges against Curtis Tornai, 25, and Anthony Merciari, 29.

Loren Uriarte, 25, is accused of the April 23 robbery at his Piner Road apartment complex. Police said he robbed a 27-year-old Los Angeles man at gunpoint who was led to the complex by the two other men.

Tornai and Merciari were initially suspected of meeting the victim at a Rohnert Park shopping center parking lot, where the victim was trying to sell the speakers.

Police said he believed the men were interested in buying the equipment and followed them to Piner Road. Uriarte emerged from an apartment and robbed him, police said.

An investigation led to a home on Flower Avenue where the three were arrested. Officers found a handgun and several pounds of marijuana in Uriarte's apartment, police said.

Uriarte remains free on $50,000 bail. His next court hearing is Wednesday.