A 19-year-old from Santa Maria has been booked into jail on felony robbery charges after police say he demanded money from a man and threatened to use a gun.
Just before 8 p.m. Monday, Santa Maria police were called to W. Betteravia Rd. and Thornberg St. for a robbery. The victim told officers a the suspect demanded that he hand over his money and told the victim he had a gun.
The victim gave the suspect his money out of fear for his safety.
Police say the suspect ran off but officers spotted the suspect and detained him. Martin Montez De Oca, 19, was identified as the suspect and arrested.
Officers determined that De Oca never actually had a gun during the ordeal.
De Oca is in jail with bail set at $100,000.
