Two Men Arrested, Suspected of More than a Dozen Robberies

On Tuesday Aug. 25, Redlands Police, working closely with Fontana Police detectives, arrested two men believed responsible for as many as 13 armed robberies in the Inland Empire since July 30, including three in Redlands. Police arrested 28-year-old Michael Lamont Scott Jr. of Banning, and 29-year-old Ryan Neal Williams of San Bernardino. Police believe Scott is the man who held a Starbucks, at 637 Orange St. on Aug. 1; Toys-R-Us, 9930 Alabama St. on Aug. 17; and Papa John’s Pizza, 770 Tennessee St. on Aug. 24. Also, he has been suspected of at least 10 other robberies in Fontana, San Bernardino, Calimesa, Rancho Cucamonga, Rialto and Ontario. Williams is believed to have been the getaway driver in each of the hold-ups. In each of the robberies, victims reported the suspect produced a handgun and demanded cash before escaping. Following a holdup at a Fontana Kmart on July 30, detectives in Fontana developed leads on the suspect vehicle and identified Williams as a possible accomplice. Fontana detectives later identified Scott as the primary suspect. Redlands Police were able to confirm Scott as the suspect in the Redlands robberies. On Tuesday Aug. 25, Redlands Police performing surveillance on the vehicle located Scott and Williams leaving a San Bernardino residence in a vehicle and had the Inland Valley SWAT Team perform a stop on the vehicle. Williams was arrested for outstanding warrants and later charged with conspiracy and armed robbery. Scott was arrested for armed robbery and later charged with conspiracy as well being a parolee at large. An airsoft gun and clothing matching the descriptions from several of the robberies was recovered by detectives.