San Benito school placed on lockdown

SAN BENITO — Police locked down a local elementary school Monday morning as they chased
an armed robbery suspect through the city’s west side.

Sullivan Elementary School was placed on lockdown for about an hour Monday as police chased Eric Gaytan, 17, who was wanted in the Sunday armed robbery of the X Cell Communications store at 160 W. Expressway 83, San Benito police Lt. Martin Morales said.

Gaytan and another unknown male entered the cell phone store Sunday afternoon, Gaytan
armed with a handgun and the other man holding a small knife, Morales said. The two demanded money from the clerk, with Gaytan eventually ripping the cash register from the counter, Morales said, and estimated the two stole roughly $1,600.

Police later learned that Gaytan was hiding at the San Benito Best Western hotel Monday morning, Morales said, and as officers moved in, Gaytan fled on foot. Police then placed Sullivan Elementary on lockdown as a “precautionary safety measure,” Morales added.

After evading police, Gaytan hid in the brush near a driveway in the 900 block of South Bowie Street, Morales said. He then forced himself into a woman’s car as she was leaving her driveway, threatening her and telling her to keep driving, Morales said.

Police stopped the vehicle about two blocks away and arrested Gaytan, Morales said. Police
did not find a weapon on him, he added.

Gaytan was charged with aggravated robbery and aggravated kidnapping, Morales said, with his bail set at $175,000 for both charges. He could face additional charges in connection to a robbery at the San Benito Little Caesar’s restaurant on Aug. 26, Morales said. Police charge that he stole roughly $1,800 in the Little Caesars robbery.

Harlingen police took Gaytan into custody early Tuesday, where he will likely face additional robbery charges, Harlingen police confirmed Tuesday. Police Tuesday did not give details of the Harlingen robbery.