Victorville Man Arrested for Barstow Liberty Tax Robbery

BARSTOW – A chipped front tooth helped victims to identify a suspect involved in an armed robbery at the Liberty Tax services on Tuesday night.

Just after 8:00 p.m., Barstow Police received a report of a robbery alarm at the business located in the 900 block of Armory Road. The reporting party said that the suspect who was described as a black man presented a handgun, demanded money, and warned them if anyone moved he would shoot them. The employees compiled providing the suspect with approximately $1200 in cash, and the suspect fled on foot running westbound. Officers responded within minutes and began gathering information to broadcast to other patrol officers searching the area.

The suspect was described as 5’6”, 150 pounds, wearing a black sweatshirt, a black beanie with white print on the beanie, and white shoes. The victims also recalled that the suspect had a chipped front tooth. Officers searched the area and located a person walking westbound through a dirt lot in a residential area west of the incident location. Upon contact with the subject with clothing matching the suspect’s clothing description, they noticed he had the same physical description including the chipped front tooth.

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Officers identified the male subject as Latoyi Clinkscale, of Victorville. Further investigation revealed that Clinkscale is currently on active parole from the California Department of Corrections. Officers conducted an in-field show-up with Clinkscale and the victims positively identified him. He was found to be on active parole. Officers placed him under arrested and located the $1200 stolen from the location in his possession.

In the dirt area officers located the small silver handgun, a sweatshirt, and beanies that all matching the description of those used by the suspect during the robbery. Surveillance footage was reviewed that showed the crime in progress, which also confirmed that the correct suspect was in custody and the handgun retrieved was the one used during the robbery. Clinkscale was booked at the Barstow Jail for robbery, felon in possession of ammo, felon in possession of a weapon and a parole violation.

Anyone with additional information regarding this incident may contact Corporal Danny Arthur at the Barstow Police Department (760)256-2211. Those wishing to remain anonymous may also report criminal activity by calling the WE-Tips hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or may leave information on the We-Tip website at www. wetip.com