The man accused of robbing a taco shop at fingerpoint Monday was linked to a similar robbery in October last year. Investigators say on October 19, 2013, an unknown black male walked into the Cheap Cigarettes business in the 56100 block of 29 Palms Highway in Yucca Valley, covered his face, had one hand under his shirt, and demanded money from the clerk. After getting the money, the robber walked away. Detectives had no leads. Then Monday, Michael Clark, 21, of Yucca Valley, entered Algoberto’s taco shop in the same shopping center just after closing. Face covered and one hand under his shirt, he told the two employees that he would shoot them if they didn’t give him the money. The store’s cook hit the silent alarm button and the cashier realized that Clark was only using his finger as a gun. The cashier grabbed Clark and the cook hit Clark with a steel bean masher. The two held him until deputies arrived, and he was arrested for investigation of attempted robbery and booked with bail at $50,000. Detectives noticed similarities between the two robberies; evidence was obtained linking Clark to the 2013 robbery. Michael Clark was booked on suspicion of robbing the cigarette store, with his bail set at $100,000.
