TOAO
04-29-2009, 05:35 PM
Suspect in robbery was at Clippers game at the time
Police are asking prosecutors to drop charges against Aaron Burris of Huntington Beach.
By ANNIE BURRIS
The Orange County Register
A Huntington Beach man police arrested on suspicion of robbing a convenience store at gunpoint was actually at a Los Angeles Clippers' basketball game during the time of the robbery, according to surveillance videos and cell phone photos, Cypress police officials said.
Detectives are recommending that Orange County Superior Court prosecutors drop charges against Aaron Burris, who police initially believed robbed J&B Market on April 1, Sgt. Rod Cox said.
Burris, 24, spent five nights in the Orange County Jail, posted $50,000 for bail, and was put on leave from his job at Big O Tires on the 4400 block of Lincoln Avenue in Cypress after he was arrested April 10.
"I think that is excellent, but I still want to see justice for what I've been through," said Burris of the police decision to recommend dropping the charges. "I just wish they would have took the time and got a chance to listen to my alibi because it was legit."
Police expect the charges to be officially dropped by the next court hearing May 8.
The Orange County's District Attorney's Office said it received the new information and was reviewing the case, but refused to provide specifics about the investigation.
POLICE SAY NO APOLOGY
Police have an obligation to "expeditiously" arrest an armed robbery suspect because of public safety concerns, Cox said.
"We have witnesses that are saying that he is definitely the suspect … and we have an obligation to go and arrest him," said Cox. "I don't know that an apology would be needed."
The J&B Market clerk was robbed at gunpoint by two men who demanded the clerk open the cash register and then lie on the ground face down. Police believed Burris pointed the gun at the clerk while the second robber, who remains at large, emptied the cash register. The convenience store is less then half a mile from where Burris worked.
After the robbery, police put out notices saying they were looking for a two black men in their early 20s, between 5 feet, 7 inches and 5 feet, 10 inches tall, and 150 to 170 pounds. Police were also looking for a 2000 to 2003 silver Chevrolet Monte Carlo the robbers drove away in.
Burris is black, 183 pounds, 6 feet, 3 inches tall, and owns a 2001 silver Monte Carlo.
At least four people called Cypress police confirming Burris was the robber, and one additional person had gone to the Police Department and verified "that it is 110 percent him," Cox said.
Burris said the witnesses were relatives who were angered over a child-custody dispute he was involved in. Cox said the police interviewed the witnesses, but child custody was never mentioned.
Burris had been charged with a felony for possession of a concealed weapon in 2003 in Los Angeles County, but that charge was changed to a misdemeanor and Burris pleaded guilty, court records show. Burris said he was carrying a gun for protection because his home was recently shot at.
Authorities picked up Burris in 2006 for a probation violation but prosecutor later admitted they had the wrong man, records said.
FIGHTING FOR HER FIANCE
After Burris' arrest in Cypress, several witnesses – including his fiancee, Brooke Bennett – told police they were at the Clippers' game in a luxury box with Burris.
Bennett, 22, had given police four photos she had taken with her cell phone camera at the game as well as ticket stubs from the Staples Center. A time stamp on one of the photos said the picture was taken at 9:17 p.m. – the exact time of the robbery, according to police records. Police determined that the time stamp was not altered.
"He is innocent and we had proof and it should have been investigated," said Bennett.
Billy Horton, 26, was serving food and drinks in the Staples Center box while Burris and Brooke watched the Clippers lose to the New Orleans Hornets on April 1. The game started at 7:30 p.m.
"Brooke and her boyfriend were at the game at 7 p.m.," Horton told The Orange County Register. "They were there until the game ended. … He was sitting in the front-row seats with his girl."
An owner of Big O Tires said Burris will be able to come back to work if the charges are dropped and that the armed robbery was uncharacteristic of Burris who had occasionally taken deposits to the bank for the business.
"I thought he was real sweet," said owner Gary McMann. "I was absolutely shocked to hear it. That is not his character."
Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to contact the Cypress Police at 714-229-6631.
""We have witnesses that are saying that he is definitely the suspect … and we have an obligation to go and arrest him," said Cox. "I don't know that an apology would be needed.""
Anyone catch what color he is?
Police are asking prosecutors to drop charges against Aaron Burris of Huntington Beach.
By ANNIE BURRIS
The Orange County Register
A Huntington Beach man police arrested on suspicion of robbing a convenience store at gunpoint was actually at a Los Angeles Clippers' basketball game during the time of the robbery, according to surveillance videos and cell phone photos, Cypress police officials said.
Detectives are recommending that Orange County Superior Court prosecutors drop charges against Aaron Burris, who police initially believed robbed J&B Market on April 1, Sgt. Rod Cox said.
Burris, 24, spent five nights in the Orange County Jail, posted $50,000 for bail, and was put on leave from his job at Big O Tires on the 4400 block of Lincoln Avenue in Cypress after he was arrested April 10.
"I think that is excellent, but I still want to see justice for what I've been through," said Burris of the police decision to recommend dropping the charges. "I just wish they would have took the time and got a chance to listen to my alibi because it was legit."
Police expect the charges to be officially dropped by the next court hearing May 8.
The Orange County's District Attorney's Office said it received the new information and was reviewing the case, but refused to provide specifics about the investigation.
POLICE SAY NO APOLOGY
Police have an obligation to "expeditiously" arrest an armed robbery suspect because of public safety concerns, Cox said.
"We have witnesses that are saying that he is definitely the suspect … and we have an obligation to go and arrest him," said Cox. "I don't know that an apology would be needed."
The J&B Market clerk was robbed at gunpoint by two men who demanded the clerk open the cash register and then lie on the ground face down. Police believed Burris pointed the gun at the clerk while the second robber, who remains at large, emptied the cash register. The convenience store is less then half a mile from where Burris worked.
After the robbery, police put out notices saying they were looking for a two black men in their early 20s, between 5 feet, 7 inches and 5 feet, 10 inches tall, and 150 to 170 pounds. Police were also looking for a 2000 to 2003 silver Chevrolet Monte Carlo the robbers drove away in.
Burris is black, 183 pounds, 6 feet, 3 inches tall, and owns a 2001 silver Monte Carlo.
At least four people called Cypress police confirming Burris was the robber, and one additional person had gone to the Police Department and verified "that it is 110 percent him," Cox said.
Burris said the witnesses were relatives who were angered over a child-custody dispute he was involved in. Cox said the police interviewed the witnesses, but child custody was never mentioned.
Burris had been charged with a felony for possession of a concealed weapon in 2003 in Los Angeles County, but that charge was changed to a misdemeanor and Burris pleaded guilty, court records show. Burris said he was carrying a gun for protection because his home was recently shot at.
Authorities picked up Burris in 2006 for a probation violation but prosecutor later admitted they had the wrong man, records said.
FIGHTING FOR HER FIANCE
After Burris' arrest in Cypress, several witnesses – including his fiancee, Brooke Bennett – told police they were at the Clippers' game in a luxury box with Burris.
Bennett, 22, had given police four photos she had taken with her cell phone camera at the game as well as ticket stubs from the Staples Center. A time stamp on one of the photos said the picture was taken at 9:17 p.m. – the exact time of the robbery, according to police records. Police determined that the time stamp was not altered.
"He is innocent and we had proof and it should have been investigated," said Bennett.
Billy Horton, 26, was serving food and drinks in the Staples Center box while Burris and Brooke watched the Clippers lose to the New Orleans Hornets on April 1. The game started at 7:30 p.m.
"Brooke and her boyfriend were at the game at 7 p.m.," Horton told The Orange County Register. "They were there until the game ended. … He was sitting in the front-row seats with his girl."
An owner of Big O Tires said Burris will be able to come back to work if the charges are dropped and that the armed robbery was uncharacteristic of Burris who had occasionally taken deposits to the bank for the business.
"I thought he was real sweet," said owner Gary McMann. "I was absolutely shocked to hear it. That is not his character."
Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to contact the Cypress Police at 714-229-6631.
""We have witnesses that are saying that he is definitely the suspect … and we have an obligation to go and arrest him," said Cox. "I don't know that an apology would be needed.""
Anyone catch what color he is?