Fresno PD looking for suspect in string of violent robberies in Figarden area

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A Northwest Fresno man shares his story after fighting back with a robber who threatened him with a baseball bat. Fresno police are still looking for the suspect believed to be involved in two other robberies.

Officers said he approached three people Tuesday in the middle of the day in the Figarden Loop area. That suspect managed, in just a little over an hour, to approach those three victims who were all walking in areas within two miles of each other.

"This guy is dangerous. If he would've pulled a knife or gun on me that would have been a totally different story," said John Liker, victim.

Liker and his two dogs were walking along Calimyrna and Brawley Tuesday afternoon when a man approached him demanding he hand over his wallet.

"I said, 'really. You really want my wallet?' He says, 'yeah, I need your wallet.' and he pretty much showed he was going to use. And then he said he had a gun in his belt."

Liker said he screamed out to his neighbor for help which scared the suspect away.

What Liker didn't know was just 30 minutes earlier, someone with a similar description assaulted another person less than a mile away on Figarden Drive and Sample.

Police said the 22-year-old victim was walking with headphones in his ears when he was hit with a baseball bat by a man wearing a black hoodie, who asked what he had on him. An hour later, another robbery, this time on Bullard and Marty.

The suspect allegedly walked behind a 13-year-old boy walking home from school and hit him in the back of the head before taking off with his backpack. The teen was left on the ground with a bloody face.

"We've always felt pretty safe, but yeah something like that it kinda of makes you feel as comfortable and safe as you used to," said Irene Sudaria, neighbor.

And all of the victims described the suspect as being a Hispanic male over five foot in his early 20s with a stocky build. They also all say he had a piercing on his lip.

Anyone with information about these robberies is asked to contact the fResno Police Department.