By Moses Leos III
A trio of men have been arrested in connection with an an aggravated robbery along Burleson Street. The Kyle Police Department and the Hays County Sheriff’s Office continue their search for one man and one woman who are still at large.
According to a probable cause affidavit, suspects involved in the robbery used Facebook to lure two victims to a house on Post Road Circle where one of them was robbed on Sept. 21.
Hays County Pct. No. 2 Justice of the Peace Beth Smith signed the affidavit, which was obtained by Kyle Police in their arrest of Kenneth Anthony Alvarez, 23, of Kyle, on Sept. 25.
Alvarez has been charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of engaging in organized criminal activity. Alvarez was released on Sept. 26 on $75,000 bond.
On Monday, the HCSO arrested Johnathan Arrellano-Castillo, 19, of Kyle, and John Paul Arrellano-Castillo, 17, of Kyle. Both men are charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of engaging in organized criminal activity, all first degree felonies. Both are being held in the Hays County Jail on $110,000 bond.
Authorities are still searching for 18-year-old Jacob Sol Lambert, and 17-year-old Angel Marie Quihuiz, who are wanted in connection with the crime.
According to the affidavit, two 20-year-old men said Quihuiz sent a Facebook message asking both if they wanted to hang out or “chill.” Upon arriving and entering the apartment, both men told police that “several men” approached them.
One victim, according to the affidavit, said the men threw him down, and while at gun point, made him disrobe. According to the victim, the men stole his iPhone 6, $70 and a gray and black Chicago Bulls snap back cap. The victim said he was allowed to leave after his items were stolen.
The second victim entered the apartment but managed to escape his attackers. He said the men attempted to get into his car and rob him, but he “did not let them.” The second victim reported several male subjects wearing bandanas pointing a gun at him and attempting to rob him.
According to Kyle Police Chief Jeff Barnett, neither man had any prior contact with Quihuiz. While police are still investigating a motive, Barnett said the suspects were “taking an opportunity” to see if anyone would respond to her Facebook message.
“The victims were invited to meet someone they didn’t know and went to a unfamiliar address only to become victims of crimes,” Barnett said.
During the investigation, police talked with the mother of the Arrellano-Castillo siblings on Sept. 21. She told police they were evicted from 146 Post Road, but that both men stayed at the apartment that evening. She added that Quihuiz was in town and at the apartment.
Both victims were able to identify some of the suspects involved in the robbery through photos on Quihuiz’ Facebook page.
Investigators then found out through Facebook that Alvarez was starting a new job at the Burger King in Kyle. They visited him, and saw he was wearing the hat stolen from one of the victims.
In a voluntary interview conducted on Sept. 24, Alvarez said he and the four other suspects were at 146 Post Road Circle and did rob the two men at gunpoint.
The Arrellano-Castillo siblings and Lambert denied having any knowledge of the crime when investigators contacted them. Quihuiz told police she was at the apartment, but that she left at 2 a.m.
Barnett said the Kyle Police Department has responded to criminal activity at that apartment complex. Crimes ranged from drug sales, to occasional calls of gunshots in the area, to property crimes and occasional fights.
Robberies where social media is used to lure victims, while rare in Kyle, do occur across the country, according to Barnett. He said people have used Craigslist and other social media and the internet to “further their criminal acts.”
He cautions citizens on contacting unknown people on social media.
“Clearly people should use good judgment and caution when meeting anyone that you don’t know based on social media contact, regardless of the social media platform,” Barnett said.
