Riverside suspect faces $280,000 bail after three scooter robberies
Police charged an 18-year-old with six counts of armed robbery following incidents near UC Riverside and an Islamic center.
By Ana Castro ·
Riverside police booked Shareef Pendergrass on six armed robbery charges on Monday, October 26.
The 18-year-old faces a bail amount of $280,000 while held at the Robert Presley Detention Center. Authorities say he robbed three separate victims over two days using a scooter to approach them from behind.
The first incident happened at 7:57 p.m. on October 23 near the Islamic Center of Riverside on West Linden Street. A university student walking in the area was approached by a suspect on a scooter who demanded money. The victim believed the suspect held a handgun. Investigators noted the student had no connection to the religious center.
A second robbery occurred later that same evening near Blaine Street and Canyon Crest Drive, close to the Stonehaven Apartments. Police described the circumstances as similar to the first attack. On October 24 at 7:07 p.m., a third robbery took place at the University Crest Apartments at 3130 Canyon Crest Drive.
Detective Stanley Hua of the Riverside Police Department and Detective Jonathan Estrada of the UC Riverside Police Department are leading the joint investigation. Officers searched Pendergrass's residence and recovered evidence linking him to the crimes.
Police continue the investigation and have released contact details for tips, including the phone number 951-353-7135 for Detective Hua and 951-827-6197 for Detective Estrada.
