The degree to which California has decriminalized marijuana has had many effects, but one of them is that it has made marijuana dispensaries an appealing target for robberies. Would-be thieves think these businesses are ripe for the plucking because they assume they have large amounts of cash and marijuana.
Recently, a San Bernardino marijuana dispensary was robbed, triggering a very large response from local law enforcement agencies.
Local police were summoned to the dispensary at 154 South E Street around 9:30 p.m. on January 28, according to the Press Enterprise. The report they received said that three people, one of whom had a shotgun, entered the dispensary, robbed the clerk and began looting the store.
Police squads and a SWAT team responded and apprehended three suspects. It wasn't until around 11:35 p.m. that the scene was cleared. No one was injured.
The three suspects have not been charged in connection with the robbery yet, but when they are, it is likely that they will face significant punishments.
We don't know these suspects personally, but as criminal defense attorneys, we can say with certainty that they are deserving of the right to legal counsel. That is something our criminal justice system grants to all accused people.
At the Law Office of Nicolai Cocis and Associates, we serve people from the Riverside County communities of Hemet, Temecula, Lake Elsinore, Corona and Murrieta. If you think you need to speak with a criminal defense attorney, please feel free to contact us to schedule a free consultation. We can help! Our office is located minutes away from the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta.