Fast food workers accused of McAllen stun gun robbery

McALLEN — Police arrested three fast food workers accused of the armed robbery of a fellow restaurant manager.

The robbery occurred outside Sonic Drive-In, 3100 N. 10^th St., about 12:26 a.m. on Sept. 30.

The store manager was leaving for the night with a bank bag of the restaurant’s daily earnings inside. The manager told police Javier Saldivar Jr. confronted her with a stun gun in the parking lot, court documents in the case show.

Saldivar, 20, covered part of his face with a bandanna, activated the stun gun and ordered her to hand over the money bag, which had more than $1,300 inside, according to court documents. The manager said she recognized Saldivar after working with him at another Sonic location in Edinburg.

Saldivar took off with the manager’s money bag and cell phone. The manager, who was not injured, went to a nearby Whataburger to report the crime, because she said she knew a police officer would be on duty there.

Officers located and arrested Saldivar on Thursday. Police said Saldivar confessed to the crime and implicated two other friends and co-workers with the crime.

Saldivar said he had hatched the plan to rob the store manager with Ramiro Hernandez, a 21-year-old former Sonic employee, several weeks before, court documents show.

Hernandez pushed Saldivar to commit the robbery and got the stun gun from Chris Rosales, 27, who is also a Sonic employee, police said.

Saldivar gave Rosales $200 for use of the stun gun, and Hernandez got $200 for helping out in the robbery, as well.

When Hernandez turned himself in to McAllen police on Thursday, detectives said he provided false details in a sworn statement about the crime, but later confessed.

The three men were all charged with aggravated robbery, a first degree felony that carries a maximum 99-year prison sentence and $10,000 fine upon conviction.

Hernandez was also charged with tampering with evidence, a third degree felony that has a maximum 10-year prison sentence and a $10,000 fine upon conviction.

Saldivar was also charged with possession of marihuana, a class B misdemeanor.

Hernandez’s bond was set at $130,000, Saldivar’s bond was set at $101,500 and Rosales’ bond was set at $100,000. Each man remained at the Hidalgo County Jail late Monday afternoon.

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Jared Taylor covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at (956) 683-4439.