Fall River Police Track Down Alleged Violent Store Robber

A local man faces charges after allegedly bloodying a convenience store clerk in Fall River and stealing from the store's register.

Police responded to Sunny's Convenience Store at 562 Main St. around 11:20 a.m. on May 20 for reports of an armed robbery. Police found a male clerk with a severe head laceration, according to a media release from Fall River Police Department spokesman Lt. Jay Huard.

Police say 24-year-old Raul Ortiz entered the store while other patrons were inside. He allegedly lurked in the back, pretending that he was shopping while taking items off the shelf. The suspect waited until all other customers left and brought items to the counter. That's when the suspect removed a blunt item from his clothing and struck the clerk twice in the head, according to police. The suspect allegedly demanded that the clerk open the register, and the clerk complied. Ortiz then allegedly ran off with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Fall River detectives arrived on scene and collected relevant dislocated store items to fingerprint. The friction ridge prints lifted positively identified the suspect as Raul Ortiz, the police department said.

Two days later, detectives located Ortiz outside the Family Farm Convenience store and say they placed him under arrest without incident.

“The Fall River Police Department Crime Scene Unit does exceptional work. I applaud Crime Scene Detective Jon Rose for his technical skills that helped solve this violent crime,” said Police Chief Jeffrey Cardoza.

Ortiz, of 113 Kilburn St., is charged with armed robbery and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a person over 60.