Jurupa Valley Man Arrested on Suspicion of Kidnapping, Five Robberies

A man suspected of robbing a series of businesses, armed with tool of some sort, was arrested in Riverside, a sheriff's sergeant said Saturday.

The robberies began Oct. 21 with the hold-up of a Yum Yum Donuts in Jurupa Valley and led to the armed robberies of two Shell gas stations and a bakery two weeks later, all by the same suspect, Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. Samuel Flores said.

The robbery of a Circle K in Riverside gave detectives enough information to tie Thomas K. McGowan, 31, of Jurupa Valley, to the crimes, the sergeant said. No addresses were released.

McGowan was arrested Friday at his home and booked for suspicion of five counts of second-degree robbery, kidnapping, false imprisonment and other crimes, according to jail records.

No other details were released, including the type of tool or why kidnapping charges were being requested from prosecutors.

McGowan remained in custody today with bail set at $150,000, records showed.

-City News Service