An on-duty Turlock Fire Department employee helped Turlock Police officers catch a robbery suspect who threatened a clerk after being caught stealing.

The suspect was identified as Karl Zamora, 35, of Turlock. He was booked into Stanislaus County Jail on charges of robbery, a weapons possession violation and violation of his probation.

The incident began around 2:30 p.m. Thursday when the on-duty Turlock Fire Department employee was flagged down by an individual in the 2400 block of Geer Road regarding a robbery that had just occurred.

The fire department employee radioed to police dispatch that a man, later identified as Zamora, had taken items from a store and that he was following him through an alley at a safe distance.

A police officer responded to the area and witnessed Zamora “discard some items upon contact,” said Turlock Police spokesman Sgt. Michael Parmley. “Merchandise and a knife were located among the discarded items.”

According to the police report, Zamora had concealed merchandise in a bag while inside the business and attempted to leave without paying.  He was contacted by a store employee and asked for the items back, but responded by pulling away from the employee and threatening him. 

“An infield show-up was conducted and Zamora was identified as the responsible suspect,” Parmley said.