BENTONVILLE — Three people are accused of pretending to be federal agents and holding a family hostage while forcing a man at gunpoint to drive to an automated teller machine to withdraw money.
Rogers police arrested Maria Guadalupe Serrano, 18, Morrissa Jackson, 19, and Kristinlin Bayler, 19, in connection with aggravated residential burglary, aggravated robbery and kidnapping, all Class Y felonies. They also were arrested in connection with theft of property, a Class C felony; and criminal impersonation, a Class D felony. All three listed their home as Peoria, Ill.
Bayler, Serrano and Jackson are being held in the Benton County Jail on $500,000 bonds. Arraignments are set for 8 a.m. May 12 in Circuit Judge Brad Karren's court.
Natalie Tovar called police at 7:50 a.m. Monday saying she returned home from work and discovered her family had been kidnapped, handcuffed and held at gunpoint by people claiming to be federal agents. The incident happened at 3 a.m., but the family didn't report it earlier because they had been threatened and told not to call police.
Juan Pozos, one of the residents in the home, said when his mother-in-law opened the door she was pushed inside and three people armed with guns came inside. Pozos, his mother-in-law and another relative were handcuffed while a 13-year-old girl and 2-year-old child also were in the home.
Pozos said one person was armed with a shotgun and another had a black pistol, according to court documents.
Pozos told police one suspect who wore dark sunglasses acted like she had been at the residence before because she went to the room where he kept his jewelry and she took his gold bracelets, rings and necklaces.
Pozos said he was taken outside and a gun was put to his head. He was asked about money and the title for his vehicle was demanded. Pozos was driven to the bank. Pozos sat in the vehicle's back seat with one of the suspects, who kept a gun on him. The third suspect remained at Pozos' home with his family
Pozos got $300 from an ATM. When they returned to the home he was warned not to call police.
Pozos later recognized Serrano's photograph and identified her as the daughter of one of his friends. He also was able to tell police one of the suspects had a tattoo on his neck in blue ink that showed letters and stars. The letters may have been JB.
The three were arrested at a home on South Fourth Street in Rogers.
Serrano told police she wore a uniform during the robbery and they planned to represent themselves as FBI and immigration agents.
Police recovered a toy pistol, toy handcuffs, a pair of sunglasses, jewelry and other items.
Serrano confessed to her involvement in the robbery. She told about planning the robbery and buying the fake gun and clothing used during the robbery.
Serrano also said the trio had committed robberies using toy guns in Peoria, Ill.
Bayler, who has a tattoo with the words "KB" on his neck, initially refused to talk with police. Bayler denied any involvement in the robbery, but later said Serrano and Jackson threatened him into participating.
Bayler admitted remaining at the home while Jackson and Serrano took Pozos to the bank. Bayler also admitted being involved in robberies in Peoria.
Bayler told police the trio came to Rogers to attend a party and they were going to commit the robbery for money to travel back to Peoria.
NW News on 04/09/2014