Windsor armored car heist suspects linked to Los Angeles area robberies, murder

Two men accused of trying to kill an armored car guard during a brazen daytime heist in Windsor are suspected of carrying out a similar crime in Southern California in March, and one of the men has been linked to the killing of a sandwich shop owner last year, authorities said.

Ivan Morales, 23, of Lakeport and Sergey Gutsu, 24, of Antelope appeared before Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Knoel Owen on Thursday to be arraigned in connection with the violent Tuesday afternoon robbery outside Chase Bank.

Morales, who is accused of shooting the 55-year-old Loomis guard with an assault-style rifle, wore handcuffs and sat in the jury box.

Gutsu, suspected of firing a pistol at a Calistoga police officer before his car was hit by the officer’s car and he was apprehended, had a black eye and was rolled into court shackled to a wheelchair. He is expected to be charged with attempted murder in Napa County.

Gutsu also is expected to be charged with the murder of Pravin “Peter” Patel, the 62-year-old owner of a Quizno’s sandwich shop in the Los Angeles County community of San Dimas who was gunned down during a robbery on June 2 last year, according to Lt. John Corina with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.

Los Angeles detectives interviewed Gutsu in Sonoma County Wednesday, Corina said.

“He admitted to us that he did the murder,” Corina said.

Corina said Gutsu was not considered a suspect in the San Dimas case until Sonoma County detectives reached out to Los Angeles detectives in the aftermath of the armored car heist in Windsor. Los Angeles authorities only had a description of the man who shot Patel once in the abdomen.

Corina declined to say how Sonoma County detectives linked Gutsu to Patel’s killing. According to news reports, Patel was shot after he struggled with a robber who demanded money from the cash register. Hundreds attended a memorial service for Patel last June.

Sonoma County sheriff’s officials also have linked Gutsu and Morales to the March 29 robbery of an armored truck guard in front of a Granada Hills supermarket. No injuries were reported in that case.

About a half-dozen sheriff’s deputies stood guard Thursday in a Sonoma County courtroom as prosecutors filed attempted murder and robbery charges against both men in connection with the Windsor robbery. If convicted, each man faces a life sentence. They spoke quietly with lawyers and answered “yes” when Owen asked if they wanted more time before entering pleas. The judge set the next court date for July 29.

Outside court, prosecutor Chris Honigsberg characterized the suspects as “violent” and “callous.” He said the evidence would prove the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.

“We’ve charged it aggressively,” Honigsberg said. “I believe Napa County is doing the same.”

Honigsberg didn’t have an update on the condition of the wounded guard, saying he believed he was still in the hospital.

During the brief first appearance, a woman identified as Gutsu’s sister was kicked out of court for nodding or smiling at her brother. She declined to comment except to say she was surprised he had a black eye. The prosecutor said he believed Gutsu received it when his car was hit by the patrol car in Calistoga.

Gutsu’s lawyer, Jonathan Steele, said he had yet to review details of the case. Morales’ appointed lawyer was Jeff Mitchell, a deputy public defender.

Police believe the two men pulled up behind the Loomis truck as it was parked outside the bank at the Lakewood Shopping Center. The retail outlet was bustling with daytime customers who witnessed the dramatic robbery unfold.

At some point, two men emerged from a stolen Suzuki Vitara Grand wearing masks. Morales is suspected of firing a rifle at the guard, who was carrying bags containing an undisclosed amount of cash. He was struck by several bullets.

Bystanders rushed to his aid as the robbers fled to a nearby business strip, where they got into a blue Chevrolet Suburban before driving away.

Witnesses reported a Suburban driving erratically on Old Redwood Highway and near Esposti Park. Thinking the pair might be headed through the mountains separating Santa Rosa and Napa Valley, a Calistoga police officer drove into the area and spotted the Suburban parked on Mitzi Drive. As the officer pulled up behind it, Gutsu got out and started shooting a pistol at him, Honigsberg said.

A Napa County sheriff’s captain said Gutsu fired at least two shots before the officer rammed him with the patrol car.

Morales fled on foot and ran toward the Napa River, launching a huge manhunt throughout Calistoga, where residents were ordered to stay inside as an armed and dangerous man was in the area.

It ended about four hours later when a Sonoma County sheriff’s deputy standing guard heard movement in a dense thicket in a culvert near a creek bed behind a Calistoga mobile home park. Morales came out, unarmed, and surrendered.

Police recovered a rifle and a handgun, Honigsberg said.

Based on their Sonoma County charges, Morales faces up to 32 years to life in prison and Gutsu could get up to 17 years to life. Morales faces a 25-year enhancement for allegedly shooting someone and causing great bodily injury, Honigsberg said.

Gutsu and Morales have no convictions in Sonoma, Lake or Sacramento counties, according to court records.

Both men have had run-ins with police in Arcadia, an upscale city of about 57,000 in Los Angeles County.

In August of 2011, a woman came forward to Arcadia police with allegations that Morales sexually assaulted her, police officials said. Morales was eventually convicted of felony assault with a deadly weapon in the matter and sentenced to 385 days in jail and a three-year probation term. Morales was also arrested in Arcadia for misdemeanor DUI in 2011, and arrested again in 2013 for driving with a suspended license.

In 2010, Arcadia police arrested Gutsu outside an apartment complex after he was engaged in a verbal fight, according to police. Gutsu was convicted of misdemeanor public fighting, public records show.

Staff Writer Julie Johnson contributed to this report. Staff Writer Paul Payne can be reached at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ppayne. Staff Writer Derek Moore can be reached at 521-5336 or derek.moore@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter ?@deadlinederek.