Troy Lane Boutelle, 47, is being held at the Stanislaus County Jail after surrendering to the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s office and admitting to robbing the Little Caesar’s Pizza on Patterson Road in Riverbank on Wednesday, Jan. 1 at 9:11 p.m.
Authorities said he turned himself in and they believe they have also linked Boutelle to several other robberies in the surrounding area including Manteca, Lodi, Stockton, Merced, Galt, Patterson and Elk Grove.
Boutelle, according to police reports, walked into the Riverbank pizza business and handed a demand note to the cashier that said “this is a robbery give me all your money.” The cashier on duty took an undisclosed amount of money out of two registers and Boutelle left on foot with the cash, westbound through the parking lot toward Oakdale Road.
He has been charged with several counts of robbery and is currently being held at the Stanislaus County Jail with total bail set at $355,000 and awaiting further court action later this month.
Meanwhile, on Monday, Jan. 6 just after 12:30 a.m. an adult male, described as Hispanic and approximately five feet, four inches tall, entered a store in the 3700 block of Atchison Street wearing a mask, dark jacket, and carrying a large caliber silver semi-automatic handgun and demanded cash from the cashier.
The cashier handed an undisclosed amount of cash to the suspect. The suspect fled on foot heading down an alley.
The armed robber may be linked to an early morning robbery in Escalon on Monday prior to hitting the store in Riverbank.
According to Escalon Police reports, a subject described as a white male, about five feet, four inches tall, entered a store in that city wearing a black beanie, a black and silver bandana covering his face, black jeans and a black jacket. The suspect brandished a silver handgun and demanded money from the clerk, pointing the weapon at the employee. The robber fled the store on foot and was last seen northbound on Highway 120.
It is unknown at this time if the two incidents are connected; however, based on camera footage, suspect description and weapon used at both robberies, authorities believe that the two thefts are likely related.
This case remains open and is still under investigation.
If you have any tips, you can leave an anonymous tip by calling Crime Stoppers at (209) 521-4636. Tipsters can also e-mail tips at http://www.modestopolice.com/CrimeStoppers, or text them to CRIMES (274637) by typing "Tip704" plus the message and be eligible for a cash reward.
