NEWMAN – Four suspects were arrested early Monday morning after allegedly robbing three people at gunpoint in two separate incidents just minutes apart.

Police Chief Adam McGill said the first robbery was reported at 11:48 p.m. Sunday, when two 17-year-old boys walking on S Street near Inyo were confronted by two individuals. One pointed a revolver at the victims, demanding that they turn over their property and cell phones. They complied, and were not injured.

The second incident was reported shortly after midnight, when a 22-year-old man told police he was robbed by four men in a brown Dodge Neon, one armed with a handgun, as he walked along Driskell Avenue near Balsam.

In that case, McGill said, the victim was punched several times in the head even though he complied with demands for money and property. The victim did not require medical treatment.

He was able to give police a vehicle description, and a short time later officers located the Neon near the intersection of Highway 33 and Fresno Street.

The four suspects were in and around the vehicle.

Police detained the individuals, who were positively identified by the victims as those responsible for the robberies. Inside the vehicle police found a loaded .357 revolver, some of the stolen property and clothing which matched the description given by the victims.

The four suspects were arrested and booked into Stanislaus County Jail.

They were identified as:

• Jose J. Ramirez-Barajas, 18, of Patterson, who was arrested on charges of armed robbery, conspiracy and participation in criminal street gang activity.

• Henry J. Sanchez, 18, of Patterson, who was arrested on charges of armed robbery, conspiracy, being an accessory to a crime and participation in criminal street gang activity.

• Justin R. Phillips, 20, of Crows Landing, who was arrested on charges of armed robbery, conspiracy and being an accessory to a crime.

• A 17-year-old Patterson male, whose name is being withheld because he is a juvenile. He was arrested on charges of armed robbery, conspiracy and possession of stolen property, according to McGill.