HERCULES — A 33-year-old Oakland man and 37-year-old and 32-year-old Oakland women were in county jail after their arrests Wednesday in connection with the robbery of a Starbucks coffee shop and a police pursuit that lasted some 40 miles, authorities said.
Shortly before 1 p.m., officers responded to reports of a possible armed robbery at Starbucks, 842 Willow Ave., and were told that a man ran out carrying a bag filled with cash, police said in a press release.
Investigators learned the man had entered and asked for a manager, whom he gave a note saying it was a robbery and he wanted cash from registers and a safe. The man then walked behind the counter, took a bag from a shelf and filled it with cash from four registers.
A gun fell from his waistband onto the floor but the man did not directly threaten anyone with it. He had a radio with which he appeared to be communicating with somebody else.
After the man failed to get access to the safe, he ran from the store to a gray 2006 BMW waiting on Willow.
An officer saw the BMW eastbound on Interstate 80 and followed it across the Carquinez Bridge and into Vallejo. Officers attempted a traffic stop near the Highway 37 interchange, but the BMW driver failed to yield and got onto westbound I-80 back toward the East Bay.
When the BMW reached Richmond, California Highway Patrol officers took over the pursuit and trailed it until it got off at the Powell Street exit in Emeryville. Three people inside got out and fled on foot. They were caught, taken into custody and offered medical treatment, police said.
Officers said they recovered evidence related to the robbery at the scene. The BMW, which was registered in the 37-year-old woman passenger’s name, was towed. Investigators later learned the man and the woman passenger both had outstanding warrants, police said.
Anyone with information may call Hercules police Det. Darin Tellez at 510-799-8256 or Det. Greg Sanchez at 510-799-8274.
Contact George Kelly at 408-859-5180.
