Man Arrested After Allegedly Using Fake Gun in Holdup

VENTURA —  A man who allegedly used an ammunition holder to simulate a gun during a minimarket robbery Sunday night in Ventura was arrested soon after in Santa Paula, authorities said.

Ventura Police Sgt. Larry White said the holdup occurred about 7 p.m. at the Circle K Market in the 11000 block of Citrus Drive. The suspect, 22-year-old Ernesto Marron of Santa Paula, allegedly entered the store holding an assault-rifle-type ammunition holder under his sweatshirt, White said. He then went behind the counter and ordered the cashier to give him money, which the cashier did, White said.

A customer walked up to the front door and saw the cashier with his hands in the air. The customer, who was not identified by authorities, backed away and was able to get a description of the suspect’s vehicle and license plate number. The car was registered to a woman in Santa Paula, and authorities there were notified about the incident.

An officer from the Santa Paula Police Department recognized the metallic blue 1993 Chevrolet and the suspect’s description from a call he responded to last week. At 7:20 p.m., the officer drove to a house in the 400 block of Dartmouth Road in western Santa Paula and found the suspect sitting in the car talking to a woman.

Marron was detained by Santa Paula police officers, and the cashier was brought to the location. White said the cashier identified Marron as the robber, and Marron was arrested on suspicion of armed robbery.

Authorities said they found an ammunition magazine, similar to one used in an assault rifle, in Marron’s car. White said the magazine probably was used as the phony firearm.

Marron also had $54 with him--the exact amount of cash taken from the register, White said.

He was expected to be booked into Ventura County Jail on Sunday night.