MADERA COUNTY -On May 9, 2023, shortly before 1 pm, Madera County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the Riverstone business complex in Madera for a reported armed robbery. Multiple Deputies responded to the scene and located the victim in the complex's parking lot. The victim, a Clovis resident, reported he was sprayed with pepper spray and robbed at gunpoint by an unknown assailant, who then stole his work vehicle. He displayed visible signs of being sprayed with pepper spray.
Witness statements indicate the victim was inside his work van when the suspect approached from the rear. The victim observed the suspect, exited the vehicle to confront him, and was able to pull the gun out of his grasp. After disarming the suspect, the victim was sprayed with pepper spray. The suspect got into the victim’s van and fled the scene. The victim ran from the scene towards nearby businesses and discovered the gun he wrestled away was an airsoft pistol.
A "Be On The Lookout" BOL was sent to surrounding agencies regarding the stolen van, which had visible logos of the victim’s employer. Around 1:30 pm, Officers with the Fresno Police Department located the van in the City of Fresno. The suspect was subsequently taken into custody by Fresno Police Officers and booked into the Fresno County Jail for various charges relating to a felony investigation in their jurisdiction.
The suspect was identified as Marcus Banksbey, a 42-year-old Sacramento resident. Banksbey will face additional charges of felony carjacking with injury for the incident in Madera.
Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue commented, “The response from our deputies who investigated this incident and quickly distributed the suspect information to surrounding agencies ensured this dangerous criminal was promptly apprehended. We are grateful for the collaborative efforts from our partners at the Fresno Police Department and commend them for their diligence.”
The Madera County investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact Madera County Sheriff’s Office at (559) 675-7770. For details regarding the ongoing investigation in Fresno, please get in touch with the Fresno Police Department.
