Authorities search for armed home-invasion suspect after arresting accomplice
The Tacoma Police Department is searching for an additional suspect in an armed home-invasion in South Tacoma last month after arresting and charging a 45-year-old in connection with the robbery Tuesday.
On Feb. 27 at approximately 10:47 a.m., documents filed in the Pierce County Superior Court allege Jesus Jose Zubia Jr. and an unknown suspect entered a home in the 7200 block of East G Street and held two residents at gunpoint.
The intruders pointed their weapons at the two residents and demanded to know where money was located in the home, case documents said.
The suspects stole a small safe and about $1,500 cash from a desk, fleeing in a 1998 green Dodge Durango.
Using video-surveillance footage and license-plate data, detectives tracked the vehicle to 43-year-old man, who said he let his friend “Grumpy”, a moniker of Zubia’s, test drive the car with a friend around 10:30 a.m. the day of the robbery, case documents said.
After searching the man’s phone, detectives found texts from “Grumpy” saying, “Dave me and our clear plug are gonna go into this pad. Take a safe and out of that safe as long as the numbers are right I’m making 6000.”
The word “clear” is used as slang for methamphetamines.
“Grumpy” went on to text that “me and our guy” have to be at the house by 10:30 a.m. and to meet him at a gas station at 72nd Street East and Golden Given Road East.
GPS data from the man’s device showed he left his residence around 10:19, then arrived at the gas station by 10:34 p.m. The device stayed there for about 15 minutes, then traveled back to his residence.
Detectives matched Zubia’s neck tattoo to an image of one of the robbery suspects from surveillance footage, according to case documents. The second suspect has yet to be found.
Zubia pleaded not-guilty Tuesday to charges of first-degree burglary, first-degree robbery and unlawful imprisonment. His bail is $500,000.
The second suspect is a male approximately 6 feet tall. He was captured on surveillance footage wearing a blue hoodie, gray sweats, white tennis shoes and a gaiter mask, according to court documents.
If you have any information on the suspect, you can submit an anonymous tip via the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1-800-222-TIPS.
