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Sketch details suspect in robbery
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This is a Monroe Police Department sketch of the suspect in Tuesday's armed robbery of Vera Cruz Mexican Store.
MONROE - The Monroe Police Department on Wednesday released a sketch of the suspect in Tuesday's armed robbery at the Vera Cruz Mexican Store in downtown Monroe.

The Hispanic man is described as between 32 and 35 years old; approximately 5 feet, 5 inches tall and weighing 150 pounds. He has dark hair and eyes and a dark complexion. He is missing two top front teeth, and his teeth are generally small and in poor condition.

Police report he speaks Spanish with a Honduran accent.

He was reported to be wearing a red polo shirt with a single white and a single darker colored strip across the chest. He also was wearing a tan baseball cap with light green writing on the front. The writing possibly contains the letter "W."

Police say suspects often attempt to change their appearance after a police sketch is released. People should be aware of anyone who suddenly attempts to change their appearance in any way.

The man is wanted in connection to a robbery that took place about 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Vera Cruz Mexican Store at 1105 16th Ave., just off the Square.

Police report the man purchased a bottle of soda and a telephone card before he pulled out a knife, held it to the owner's stomach, told her not to yell and demanded she give him money.

The man took all the bills and fled the store. Police have not said how much money was stolen.

The man last was seen heading north on 16th Avenue. Monroe Chief of Police Fred Kelley said Tuesday the robber also went west on 11th Street for a short distance.

Store owner Maribel Lobato said the suspect began to come into her store about two weeks ago. He told her he had worked in Vermont and Galena, Ill. He also told her he lived in a downtown apartment.

This was the second time in a month that a Hispanic grocery in Monroe has been robbed.

On June 13, police received a report of a robbery at about 11:30 a.m. at Latin Brothers III grocery at 2823 8th Ave. on Monroe's far south side. That robbery remains under investigation, and no suspects have been arrested. Police can't say if the robberies are related.

In the robbery at Latin Brothers III, an Hispanic male, wearing a dark-colored ski mask, a red shirt and black pants, entered the grocery, displayed a knife, confronted the clerk and asked for money. The clerk gave the robber an undisclosed amount of U.S. currency. The robber fled on foot, north on Eighth Avenue.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Monroe Police Department at 329-2400.