On September 16, 2016 two armed men entered the Peace and Medicine Marijuana Dispensary located at 2340 Niles St in Bakersfield. The dispensary employed an armed security guard who was on duty at the time of the attempted robbery.
The security guard engaged the suspects and a shootout ensued where both suspects were struck by gunfire. The suspects fled the dispensary and were not immediately located. The security guard was not wounded during the exchange of gunfire.
Detectives with the Kern County Sheriff's Office Burglary/Theft Unit conducted the investigation and developed two suspects in the attempted robbery of the dispensary.
On August 2, 2017 at approximately 6:00 a.m. Detectives from the Sheriff's Office, Gang Suppression Unit and Investigations Unit along with the assistance of the Los Angeles Police Department Southeast Division and their Gang Unit executed multiple search warrants in the 400 block of East 118th Place.
At the locations, Sheriff's Detectives located and arrested 24 year old Robert Charles Williams of Los Angeles and 19 year old Marvell Carruthers of Los Angeles. Detectives also located items of evidence connected to the robbery at the marijuana dispensary.
Williams and Carruthers were booked into the Central Receiving Facility in Bakersfield on charges of attempted murder, attempted robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy and participation in a criminal street gang. Williams and Carruthers are currently being held on $620,000.00 bail.
