Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 38-year-old Santa Rosa man on charges of robbery, false imprisonment and kidnapping of a fruit vendor yesterday. The incident began at about 4:00 PM on Saturday, June 10, 2017 when a 34-year-old Oakland man was approached by the suspect at his roadside fruit stand on Calistoga Road at Porter Creek Rd outside of Santa Rosa. The suspect was described as a Caucasian male, about 30-years-old, blonde hair, blue eyes, short beard wearing a blue jacket and blue jeans.
The suspect asked what kind of fruit the victim was selling. As the victim was showing his produce, the suspect pulled out a badge and identified himself as a police officer and demanded to see his permit. He then grabbed the man, placed the victim’s hands behind his back, handcuffed him and pushed him against the suspect’s truck. The suspect went through the victim’s pockets and took an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspect took the handcuffs off the man and ordered him to pack up his fruit stand as he left in his grey Chevrolet pickup.
A witness to the robbery took down the license plate of the truck and they called the Sheriff’s Office. Responding deputies interviewed the victim and witness and put a “Be on the Lookout” out on the suspect’s pickup.
At about 12:30 AM yesterday a Napa County Sheriff’s Deputy spotted the pickup in the 2400 block of Foothill Blvd in Calistoga. He detained the driver, 38-year-old John Aloia from Santa Rosa who matched the initial description given of the suspect. In Aloia’s truck, deputies found evidence of the crime, including handcuffs, a handgun in a locked case and a bail bondsman badge. Aloia initially claimed to be a bail bond agent, but that hasn’t been verified at this time.
Aloia was transported to the Sheriff’s Office where he was interviewed by detectives and was ultimately booked into the Sonoma County Jail on the initial felony charges and has since posted a $50,000 bail bond and was released from custody.
Prepared by: Sergeant Spencer Crum
CR: 170610-027
Media Inquiries: 707-565-3941
