Shoplifter Threatens Clerk With Taser

This is a press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office. The information has not been proven in a court of law and the individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:

On 05-25-2015 at 08:15 a.m. Deputies with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to Safeway, located off the 2500 block of Harris Street, Eureka, regarding a robbery that had just occurred.

When deputies arrived on scene they contacted a 32 year old male victim, who works for Safeway as a clerk. The clerk told the deputies he was working inside of Safeway this morning when he observed a male suspect with a hand basket full of groceries avoid the check stand and walk towards the exit door.

The clerk said he approached the suspect at the exit doorway and simply asked him, what you are doing. The clerk said he grabbed ahold of the hand basket. The clerk said the suspect replied back, get out of my way while holding and cycling an electrical Taser in his hand. The clerk said he let go of the hand basket containing the food items and the suspect left the store.

The clerk described the suspect to the deputies and they checked the area, but were unable to locate him. The deputies had their dispatch broadcasted the suspect’s description to other law enforcement agencies. On 05-25-2015 at about 11:10 p.m. the Eureka Police Department located the possible suspect walking on the 3300 block Broadway, Eureka. The Eureka Police Department detained the suspect, who they identified as 20 year old, Robert William Cordero. While EPD officers had Cordero detained they located a knife on his person.

When a deputy arrived on scene with EPD the deputy recognized Cordero from a surveillance photograph taken by Safeway at the time on the incident. The Deputy then placed Cordero under arrest for the armed robbery at Safeway.

Cordero was the transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility. Cordero’s bail was set at $50,000 dollars. Cordero was also booked by the Eureka Police Department for possession of a dirk or a dagger.

Anyone with information for the Sheriff’s Office regarding this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at 707-268-2539.