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Booked: Robert Ayala was arrested July 12 on robbery and assault charges.
Chase ends with arrest of man, 36, for robbery and assault
Suspect allegedly stabbed gas station employee in neck with box cutter
By Chantal Lamers
A San Jose man led police on a short pursuit through Willow Glen on July 12, after he allegedly stabbed a man while robbing a local drug store.
The suspect, 36-year-old Robert Ayala, was arrested near Willow Glen Way and Juanita Avenue within 25 minutes of the first robbery attempt, police say.
The suspect, a handyman, was arrested on charges of robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment and being under the influence of a drug. He was booked into Santa Clara County Jail.
San Jose Police spokesman Rubens Dalaison said police believe the suspect may have been on cocaine. However, police are still awaiting results from a drug test.
According to police, Ayala drove up to the Shell Gas Station at 1103 Curtner Ave. in Willow Glen at 11:30 a.m., and attempted to purchase gas with his credit card. After two of Ayala's cards were declined, he left the store.
Ayala re-entered the store minutes later and grabbed 35-year-old Shell mechanic Jamie Gamboa and put him in a choke hold, police say. Ayala slashed Gamboa's neck with a box cutter and demanded the cashier hand over the money in the register, police say.
Dalaison says Gamboa told the cashier not to hand over any money, but Ayala told the cashier he would kill Gamboa if he didn't.
Gamboa and the cashier began to struggle with the suspect, and Gamboa was slashed again in his back. Ayala then fled to his truck.
Gamboa was taken to Valley Medical Center where he was treated for non life-threatening stab wounds.
Police say that Ayala then drove to Walgreens at Almaden Road and Koch Avenue. While making a purchase, Ayala pushed the cashier out of the way, grabbed cash from the register and fled in his truck, police say.
Ayala was spotted near Almaden Road and led police on a short pursuit through Willow Glen. Police stopped Ayala near Willow Glen Way and Juanita Avenue. Ayala got out of his truck and demanded that police shoot him, Dalaison said.
Ayala was still armed with the box cutter, but police convinced him to drop it. Ayala then pulled out a pocket knife while police tried to calm him down. The suspect requested police allow him to call a friend and police dialed the number.
Police arrested Ayala when he approached the phone.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to call SJPD Detective Pat Boyd with the department's robbery unit at 408.277.4166. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can call Crimestoppers at 408.947.7867.
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
