Executive Summary
- John Mendoza, 26, was arrested Sunday afternoon following a robbery at Kay Jewelers in Woodstock.
- Police stopped the suspect near I-575 and allegedly recovered stolen jewelry and a weapon.
- No injuries were reported by store staff during the incident.
- Mendoza has been charged with armed robbery and aggravated assault.
WOODSTOCK, Ga. – Law enforcement officials in Woodstock arrested a suspect on Sunday afternoon shortly following an armed robbery at a local jewelry store. Officers took 26-year-old John Mendoza into custody less than two miles from the scene of the alleged crime.
According to the Woodstock Police Department, units responded to the Kay Jewelers located in the 900 block of Ridgewalk Parkway just after 4:30 p.m. in response to a 911 call. Staff members at the location told responding officers that a male subject had entered the store armed with a weapon and proceeded to steal jewelry. Authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported during the incident.
Based on descriptions provided by witnesses, investigators identified the suspect as Mendoza, a resident of Lithia Springs. Police located his vehicle near Towne Lake Parkway and Interstate 575 shortly after the alert was issued. Officers conducted a traffic stop and arrested Mendoza without incident. During a search of the vehicle, police allegedly recovered both the stolen jewelry and the weapon believed to have been used in the robbery.
Mendoza was transported to the Cherokee County jail where he faces charges of aggravated assault and armed robbery. Police have not released details regarding the specific value of the stolen merchandise or the type of weapon seized.
Procedural Next Steps
The swift apprehension of the suspect and the immediate recovery of the alleged stolen property and weapon are likely to play a central role as the case is presented to the Cherokee County District Attorney. In criminal proceedings involving armed robbery, the continuity of evidence regarding the weapon is a critical factor for prosecutors in establishing the elements of the charge during early judicial hearings. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
