By John Elizondo and Christine McCarthy
WACO - Three men have been arrested for kidnapping a local grocery store employee and trying to rob the store while armed with military gear and weapons early Friday morning. Police called the crime a "guerrilla-style" attack.
Police said 29-year-old Marco Polo Medina-Gonzalez, 20-year-old Josias Chavez and 24-year-old Julio Cesar Figueroa Medina followed the assistant store manager of the Super Plaza Grocery Store at 1320 N. 25th St. to an intersection near 18th St. and Bosque Blvd. There the suspects crashed into the victim's car, then pulled in front and blocked him.
According to police, two of the suspects ran to the victim, forced their way into the vehicle at gunpoint and drove him back to the store with the remaining suspect following. Police say two of the suspects wore military style clothing and ski-masks.
Police said the suspects forced the victim to enter the store and disarm the alarm system while the third suspect waited in their car. They allegedly assaulted him and tried to break into the safe.
Someone nearby noticed the commotion and called 911. The caller remained on the line while police rushed to the scene.
Investigators believe the men might have had a police scanner or received a call from an accomplice and realized police were on their way.
Officers saw two of the men run from the store and jump into their waiting vehicle. They chased them before the three suspects crashed at the intersection of Bosque Blvd. and Brookview Dr. Two of the suspects tried to run from the vehicle and were caught after a brief foot chase. The driver was immediately arrested.
Police found an AK-47 assault rifle, an Uzi and a handgun in their car, along with bulletproof vests.
"We were fortunate that it turned out like it did. We believe that the car crash and the amount of force that was involved in that impact probably kept the suspects from getting to weapons and potentially having a shoot-out with officers," Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton said, adding that the 911 caller could have saved the victim's life.
The three suspects have been arrested and charged with Aggravated Kidnapping and Aggravated Robbery. Medina-Gonzalez faces an additional charge of Possession of Cocaine.
The victim received minor injuries during the assault and was taken to Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center.
All three suspects were also treated for minor injuries during the crash, and then were transported to McLennan County Jail.
Waco Police said the suspects were all carrying Mexican National identification, and at least one was confirmed as an illegal immigrant.
Investigators think the crime was so highly organized that others might have helped plan it.
