Charges were still pending against a Murrieta man named the suspect in an iPad robbery from Super Target.
Murrieta police arrested Joshua Ryan Danielson, 27, on Oct. 12 in connection with the Sept. 27 strong-armed robbery at 27818 Clinton Keith Road.
The suspect in the incident allegedly punched a Target sales associate in order to make off with two iPads valued at $599 each, according to Murrieta police.
Police on Oct. 12 announced Danielson had been positively identified as the suspect through a crime flier and surveillance video they had distributed to law enforcement agencies and local media.
Danielson, who does not show a felony criminal record in Riverside County, posted $30,000 bail within hours of his arrest.
His family claims Danielson has been wrongly accused in the crime; they've hired an attorney in an attempt to clear his name.
"This is a 100 percent mis-identification case," said Murrieta-based attorney John Pozza. "In my 18 years defending citizens' constitutional rights I have never seen such a rush to justice with so little substance or probable cause."
Murrieta police contend there was probable cause in his arrest, and are preparing the case for submission to the Riverside County District Attorney's Office.
Murrieta police Lt. Tony Conrad, who oversees the department's detective bureau, gave this statement to Patch:
"The Murrieta Police Department Detective Bureau continues to investigate this case. As with any felony case that comes into the Detective Bureau, we handle the case with relentless follow up and look at all aspects of the case.
"The reality is, the Police Department’s arrest of Mr. Danielson was made on the basis of probable cause. The investigation does not conclude after the arrest until all leads and/or evidence available to us is examined. At the conclusion of this process, the case will be presented to the District Attorney for prosecution.
"The prosecution decision lies with the District Attorney’s Office. The Murrieta Police Department always has and always will investigate our cases at the highest level possible. This case is no different.
"We do encourage anyone in the Target store or in the Target parking lot on the night of this incident (Sept. 27 between 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.) to come forward. Detective Sgt. Phillip Gomez is the point of contact for this case. Sgt. Gomez can be reached at 951-461-6356."
