The Tacoma Police Department is searching for an additional suspect involved in an armed home invasion in South Tacoma last month, following the arrest and charging of a 45-year-old on Tuesday.
According to documents filed in Pierce County Superior Court, on February 27 at approximately 10:47 a.m., Jesus Jose Zubia Jr. and an unknown accomplice entered a home in the 7200 block of East G Street and held two residents at gunpoint.
The suspects demanded to know where money was kept in the home while pointing their weapons at the residents, the case documents state.
They stole a small safe and about $1,500 in cash from a desk before fleeing in a 1998 green Dodge Durango.
Detectives used video surveillance and license plate data to track the vehicle to a 43-year-old man, who told police he allowed his friend, nicknamed "Grumpy"—a moniker for Zubia—to test drive the car with another friend around 10:30 a.m. on the day of the robbery, according to the case documents.
After searching the man’s phone, detectives found text messages from "Grumpy" stating, "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 term "clear" is slang for methamphetamines.
"Grumpy" also texted that "me and our guy" needed to be at the house by 10:30 a.m. and instructed to meet at a gas station located at 72nd Street East and Golden Given Road East.
GPS data from the man’s device showed he left his residence around 10:19 a.m., arrived at the gas station by 10:34 a.m., stayed there for about 15 minutes, then returned home.
Detectives matched a neck tattoo on Zubia to an image of one of the robbery suspects captured on surveillance footage, according to the case documents. The second suspect remains at large.
Zubia pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of first-degree burglary, first-degree robbery, and unlawful imprisonment. His bail is set at $500,000.
The second suspect is described as a male approximately 6 feet tall. Surveillance footage shows him wearing a blue hoodie, gray sweatpants, white tennis shoes, and a gaiter mask, according to court documents.
If you have any information about the suspect, you can submit an anonymous tip via the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1-800-222-TIPS.
