It’s likely that Francisco Ibarra Jr. had not forgotten about the violent robbery he is accused of committing, but after two years, he probably thought it wasn’t going to come back to haunt him. Turlock Police detectives thought differently.
Ibarra was arrested on March 16 for a robbery that happened in January of 2021 after DNA linked him to the case, according to the Turlock Police Department.
The robbery goes back to Jan. 25, 2021 at a Bank of the West in the 2100 block of Fulkerth Road. The suspect approached an elderly woman using the ATM and threw her down to the ground, said Turlock Police spokesman Sgt. Michael Parmley. The suspect wrestled the cash from the woman’s hand and snatched her purse before jumping into the BMW he had driven to the bank.
A woman running to help the robbery victim became the suspect’s second victim when he hit her with the vehicle. She was knocked to the ground and sustained moderate, non-life-threatening injuries, Parmley said.
The case was profiled in the media and on CrimeStoppers, generating a tip about the location of the BMW. The BMW was located and evidence linked to the robbery was found inside it. Evidence was submitted to the Department of Justice for DNA processing with hopes of obtaining a positive identification of the suspect.
That hope finally came to fruition recently when the DOJ reported the DNA belonged to Ibarra, a 44-year-old Turlock resident. Detectives got an arrest warrant for Ibarra for robbery, elder abuse and hit and run causing injuries.
Shortly after noon on March 16, Ibarra was spotted by officers in the 800 block of Ashton Court and was taken into custody without incident. Ibarra was interviewed before being transported and booked at the Stanislaus County Jail. As of Tuesday, he remains in custody in lieu of a $150,000 bail.
“With the assistance of the Department of Justice, the residents who provided the tips, and the use of modern technology, we were finally able to bring this criminal to justice,” said Turlock Police Detective Jason Tosta. “I hope the arrest of Ibarra will bring some sort of closure to the victims in this case for all they had to endure. Staff is committed to solving crimes such as these and holding criminals accountable for their actions, no matter how long it takes.”
Turlock Police Department staff ask that anyone with information regarding this investigation to call Detective Jason Tosta at (209) 664-7324. You can also contact the Turlock Police Department’s Tip Line at (209) 668-5550 extension 6780 or email at tpdtipline@turlock.ca.us.
The Turlock Police Department is an active participant in the Crime Stoppers Program. Callers can leave an anonymous tip by calling Crime Stoppers at (209) 521-4636 and may be eligible for a cash reward.
