Man arrested after suspected robbery at Joshua Tree market

A robbery at Sam’s Liquor store in Joshua Tree led to the arrest of a man on parole for violent crimes.

On Saturday morning (February 28) at around 11:50 a.m., San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of an armed robbery at Sam’s Liquor at the intersection of Twentynine Palms Highway and Hallee Road in Joshua Tree. Deputies say an employee at Sam’s dialed 911 to report a man who was forcefully stealing merchandise from the store. Deputies responded to the location, and identified a suspect as James Pope, 35. Pope was found to be out of prison on post-release community supervision for charges related to domestic violence.

Deputies located Pope at around 2:30 p.m. near the intersection of Barron Drive and Ruth Drive in Yucca Valley, and took him into custody. They did not indicate what was stolen from Sam’s, or if any of the allegedly stolen merchandise was recovered.

James Pope was arrested on suspicion of robbery and violating parole. He is being held at the West Valley Detention Center without bail.