Update: Suspects in custody in connection with gun incident

Calexico police say teenagers stole taxi at gunpoint

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - The Calexico Police Department (CPD) reports it has two suspects in custody in connection with the armed theft of a taxi.

Police radio traffic indicates the suspects took the cab from Brawley to Calexico, then pulled out a gun, and stole the vehicle from its driver.

CPD later found he taxi near P Rashid street in Calexico, but officers did not locate the suspected thieves immediately.

Saturday morning police confirmed they had made two arrests in the case. Officers say the suspects are both 17-years-old.

Officers are now saying one of the suspects may be tied to a separate incident that also took place that night in Brawley.

“There's a possibility that one of the suspects arrested in Calexico may have some involvement with a shooting that the Brawley police department is investigating," said Manuel Ceja, CPD sergeant.

We spoke to a local taxi driver who hadn’t heard of the incident, but says it's why the majority of taxi drivers like him work during the day.

“We pick up a lot of people that we don't know where they're from a lot of them are criminals even drug addicts and know with COVID they have masks on and it’s dangerous, two weeks ago they tried to do the same to one of my coworkers but the police came. unfortunately, it’s one of the risks we take in this job. Whether you're scared or not, we still have to work," said Alejandro Lopez, Calexico taxi driver.

CPD said criminals are taking advantage of the pandemic and are blending in with other people wearing masks to hide their identity.

“Just get a good identifying mark on either the type of mask they are wearing if there are any identifying markers on the mask, on their clothing, just in case you are a victim of a crime, you are able to identify the person," said Ceja.