On Wednesday, April 20th, 2022, at 11:30 pm, a Stanislaus County Sheriff’s deputy near Ken’s Big Bear Car Wash, 1075 N Golden State Blvd, Turlock, spotted a subject matching the description of a suspect in an armed robbery that had occurred in the jurisdiction of the Merced County Sheriff’s Office.

Other deputies, the sheriff’s airship, and officers from the Turlock and Stanislaus State police departments responded to assist.

Deputies and officers formulated a tactical plan and moved in on the subject, taking him into custody without further incident. He was identified as Kyle Luiz, 26, of Turlock, and was confirmed to be the armed robbery suspect. A discarded firearm was located near the location of the arrest. Both Luiz and the firearm were turned over to the Merced County Sheriff’s Office.

At 12:04 am, after deputies had taken Luiz into custody, the sheriff’s airship reported to ground deputies that there were several strikes in the cockpit with a green laser pointer. The airship was able to determine that the strikes were coming from a residence in the 900 block of Chestnut St. Deputies responded to the residence and made contact with Craig Jorgensen, 58, of Turlock. A laser pointer was found to be in Jorgensen’s possession and he was taken into custody without incident.

Luiz was booked into the Merced County Sheriff’s Main Jail on charges of robbery, possessing or receiving stolen property, discharging a firearm in a negligent manner, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon or person addicted to a narcotic, and assault with a firearm, while Jorgensen was booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center on charges of willfully and maliciously discharging a laser at an aircraft in motion or in flight while occupied.