Novato Robbery Suspect Knows About Warrant, Won't Surrender

issued a photo of a robbery suspect believed to be connected to an Aug. 8 incident in which two people were held at gunpoint as a large sum of money was stolen, police said Monday.

John Arce, 21, is to be considered armed and dangerous, according to Sgt. Mike Howard. Arce is aware of the warrant for his arrest and refusing to surrender to police, Howard said.

Investigators focusing on locations in Novato and Petaluma found information about Arce as they looked into the crime, which they said might have been orchestrated by another man posing as a victim. That man, Raul Garcia, 19, of Novato was arrested Aug. 12 near the Shell gas station on Redwood Boulevard and held on a felony count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, Howard said.

The robbery took place at 3 p.m. Aug. 8 on Oak Crest Court, just off Redwood Boulevard in a condominium subdivision south of Scottsdale Pond. Two people allegedly were held at gunpoint by two suspects who escaped with money and other personal items, Howard said. The dollar amount was in the five-figure range, he said. Nobody was hurt, according to the police report.

The investigation is continuing as police look for Arce. No details were available as to the identity of the two others involved in the incident, but police said the other gunman is believed to be a white man in his 20s, 6 foot to 6-foot-3 and 160 to 180 pounds.

Anyone with information about Arce’s whereabouts is urged to contact Novato police at 897-4361.