Grants teen charged in Allsup's robbery

By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — Nick Garcia, 17, of 1312 Encino, was arrested about 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, by Grants police in connection with an armed robbery of an Allsup's convenience store in April.

In early June police asked the public for assistance and asked for anyone with information on Garcia's whereabouts to call CrimeStoppers. A tip to police eventually led to the arrest, Grants Police Lt. Corey Allen said.

"We watched his house and other locations a lot, including where he was working recently. I was able to arrest him as he walked into the Lottaburger on North First Street, where he worked," Allen said.

Garcia is charged in connection with one felony count of armed robbery, Allen said.

"The District Attorney and juvenile probation sent letters to his mother giving her notice of the charge and that he should go in and talk to probation.

"He went into probation (Wednesday), following that visit we found out where he would be later that day," Allen said.

Allen said he was parked across the street from the Lottaburger in an unmarked police vehicle, with two marked police vehicles and officers parked around block, out of sight.

"When he walked into Lottaburger, I walked right in behind him and I didn't give him a chance to do anything, I said 'Nick,' he turned around and said 'Hello Mr. Allen,' and I placed him under arrest," Allen said.

Garcia turns 18 on Oct. 10 and possibly faces being tried as an adult.

Garcia was interviewed by police following the April 11 incident where he allegedly walked into the Allsup's store at 1012 E. Roosevelt at 3 a.m., and put a sharp object, maybe a knife- police were not sure what the object was- to the clerk's throat.

"We have him on store surveillance video coming in and out of the store twice. The second time he went in, 10 minutes after the first time, he turned his black sweatshirt inside out and put the hood up trying to cover his face," Allen said. The robbery only netted $15.

When investigators began working the case, they found the clerks at the store did not know Garcia's name but they knew who his mother is and where she lives.

Investigators went to her house that same morning looking for Garcia. They found him and he voluntarily went to the police department for an interview.

At the time, he denied robbing the store, Allen said.

To contact reporter Jim Tiffin, call (505) 287-2197, or fax: (505) 287-2581.