On Saturday, November 26th, 2022, at 3:18 pm, the Turlock Police Department was dispatched to a reported armed robbery in progress at Smoke 4 Less, 2928 Geer Rd, Turlock.

Officers arrived and contacted the victim who told them that a man had entered his business and attempted to take two display cases full of merchandise. When the victim tried to stop the man, he threw both cases onto the ground and caused them to shatter. The man then grabbed two pocket knives from the broken display cases and threatened the owner, before fleeing the area on his bicycle with the pocket knives and other merchandise.

The victim showed officers surveillance camera video of the man and they immediately recognized him as Michael Tates, 44, of Turlock, a man who they have had plenty of encounters with.

Tates was located at a nearby park shortly later and the victim was brought to him. The victim was able to positively identify Tates as the suspect.

Tates was arrested and booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center on charges of robbery and vandalism.