Police Make Arrest in Salem Grocery Store Parking Lot Robberies

Miguel Angel Mendoza-Castro Photo: Salem Police

(SALEM) - Authorities in Salem have made an arrest in a string of robbery and kidnapping incidents that occurred last month in northeast Salem grocery store parking lots.

Lt. Bill Kohlmeyer says detectives arrested 18-year-old Miguel Angel Mendoza-Castro at his home on Friday.

Kohlmeyer says Mendoza-Castro approached his victims at the Lancaster Food-4-Less and at the Lancaster Grocery Outlet and demanded money.

In some cases Kohlmeyer said Mendoza-Castro took victims who had no money to nearby ATM machines to withdraw money.

The incidents occurred between March 10th � 20th.

Three of the incidents occurred in the parking lot of Food-4-Less and the fourth incident occurred in the parking lot of the Grocery Outlet.

Mendoza-Castro was booked into the Marion County Jail on five counts of First Degree Kidnapping, two counts of First Degree Robbery, and one count of Second Degree Robbery.

Kohlmeyer says a female listed as a suspect in the case was also located but further investigation revealed that she was unwittingly involved in the incidents and was not charged.