Suspect arrested in armed robberies of UPS drivers
Pittsburg Calif., Police Department logo. seal (Ray Saint Germain/Bay City News)
OAKLAND, Calif. - A suspect has been arrested in a series of armed robberies of UPS drivers in Oakland earlier this month, according to the Alameda County District Attorney's Office.
Gregory Taylor-Bowie was arrested Dec. 14 on suspicion of carjacking the vehicle used in robberies of four UPS employees over three days, police said in a probable cause statement.
Taylor-Bowie allegedly carjacked a black Acura RDX on Nov. 11, using a handgun. Then at 3:40 p.m. on Dec. 9, Taylor-Bowie allegedly pointed a handgun at two UPS employees delivering packages, Oakland police Officer Perla Ortiz-Salas said in the probable cause statement.
Taylor-Bowie had one of the employees put some packages inside trash bags and Taylor-Bowie fled, police allege.
Less than 24 hours later, Taylor-Bowie and another suspect, whom police have not named, approached a UPS truck. Taylor-Bowie pointed a gun at one of the UPS employees and told him to put packages inside trash bags, Ortiz-Salas wrote.
The other suspect took over driving the UPS truck as the UPS employee filled trash bags with packages, Ortiz-Salas said. The suspects eventually released the UPS employee. Taylor-Bowie and the unnamed suspect fled in the Acura, according to the probable cause statement.
The following morning, Taylor-Bowie allegedly pointed a gun at a UPS driver and told him to hold a plastic bag as Taylor-Bowie put packages in it. Taylor-Bowie left the area on foot.
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On Dec. 14, officers spotted the Acura in the 800 block of 77th Avenue. Officers turned on their lights and sirens to stop the Acura, but the driver did not stop, Ortiz-Salas said. The chase continued for three blocks.
Officers allegedly found a .45 caliber handgun on the floor of the Acura. The gun was equipped with a green laser, like the suspect used in one of the robberies, Ortiz-Salas said.
According to police, Taylor-Bowie is a convicted felon and is not permitted to possess a gun.
Taylor-Bowie is being held in Santa Rita Jail on no bail. He's scheduled to enter a plea on Jan. 7, at the East County Hall of Justice in Dublin.