Folsom police have arrested three people in connection with the robbery of a Beverages and More store this afternoon.
The incident occurred at the store at 2595 East Bidwell St. about 2:40 p.m. A man placed two large bottles of tequila in his shopping cart before meeting two women accomplices at the back of the store, according to a Police Department news release. The women placed the bottles inside their empty purses, and the three left the business without paying for the alcohol, police said.
An employee observed the entire incident and confronted the three suspects, who were in a red Saturn Vue sport utility vehicle, and asked them to return the merchandise. The man allegedly pulled a black semiautomatic pistol, and the employee fled, returning to the store where he called police.
Folsom Police dispatchers alerted neighboring law enforcement agencies, and 30 minutes later an El Dorado County sheriff's deputy spotted the Saturn on Main Street in Placerville. The deputy, along with Sheriff John D'Agostini, stopped the vehicle and detained the occupants.
Detectives recovered the two bottles of alcohol and a replica handgun, according to the news release. Arrested on suspicion of conspiracy and robbery were Andy Gonzalez, 19, and Nina Perez, 35, both of Antelope, and Catarina Garnica, 18, of Galt. All three were booked into Sacramento County Jail.
The store employee was not injured.
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