Man seeking ride robbed in Tipton, couple arrested

TULARE COUNTY, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – Two people were arrested after they robbed a man who was looking for a ride in Tipton Friday morning, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office announced.

Deputies say around 7 a.m. Friday they responded to the Shell Gas Station in Tipton for a robbery.

Investigators report a 56-year-old man approached a couple in a silver sedan and asked for a ride. They agreed to give him a ride but asked for gas money.

Once the victim paid for gas and several other items for the couple, detectives say the man demanded more items. The victim said no and as they all walked back to the car he noticed the man had a weapon.

Once at the car, the victim changed his mind and as he walked away deputies say the woman tried to lure him back to the car. When the victim refused, the man grabbed the victim’s arm and twisted it behind his back, took his wallet, and then pushed him to the ground.

Detectives eventually identified the two suspects who drove away as 29-year-old Elijah Freeman and 38-year-old Melissa Zamora. Porterville police officers saw the car and stopped it.

Deputies say Freeman and Zamora were booked under suspicion of robbery. Freeman was also found to have been on Community Supervision for previous burglary charges.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at 559-733-6218.

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