Hollywood Video robbed, cashier hurt

  A female cashier was injured during a robbery at Hollywood Video Rental in San Jose last Feb. 24, but she still managed to jot down the license plate of the suspect’s getaway vehicle, enabling the police to catch him.

The victim, a 23-year-old Filipino, sustained moderate injuries in her right jaw. The suspect reportedly took $379 cash from the establishment’s cash register.

The suspect, Benjamin Jones Castro, surrendered to the Department of Public Safety’s main station in Susupe yesterday morning and was taken into custody. He was charged with robbery, assault and battery, and theft. His bail was set at $12,000 cash.

Superior Court associate judge Joseph N. Camacho appointed the Office of Public Defender to represent the 24-year-old Castro and set the preliminary hearing for March 15 at 9am.

Police detective Patrick Sablan stated in his report that police officers responded to Hollywood Video Rental on Feb. 24 at 10:08pm after receiving a call about a robbery.

According to the preliminary investigation, the suspect had pretended to be a customer, asking for some Blu-ray DVDs. The cashier brought him to the Blu-ray DVD rack and was returning to the counter when the suspect made his way toward her and locked her in a rear chokehold using his left forearm.

The suspect instructed her to open the cash register. She attempted to free herself, but the suspect punched her once on the right side of her jaw.

Afraid that the robber might hit her again, the cashier opened the cash register. As the suspect was getting money from the register, the cashier managed to escape and ran outside, screaming for help.

The suspect also ran outside and got into a vehicle that was parked on the southern portion of the parking lot. The car sped off on Monsignor Guerrero Road, heading toward Beach Road. The cashier, however, was able to jot down the vehicle’s license plate, ABW 689.

Police later learned that the car is a 1997 Nissan Altima registered to one Barbara Valdez.

Detective Sablan said that, on Thursday, March 1, he and another detective proceeded to Valdez’s residence in Chalan Kiya where they found the suspect’s getaway vehicle.

Photos of the car were later shown to the cashier, who positively identified the getaway vehicle. The victim also identified Castro in a photo lineup.

Sablan said they learned that Castro, who is employed at Herman’s Modern Bakery, is the boyfriend of Valdez’s daughter.

Sablan said that Castro used the car that night of Feb. 24.

Police officer Jason Tarkong said the police searched for Castro over the weekend after Superior Court associate judge Kenneth Govendo issued an arrest warrant on Saturday.

Failing to locate Castro, police checked with family and friends and left messages for Castro to contact the police.

Tarkong said that Castro surrendered to DPS yesterday and was arrested at 9:46am.