Richmond man arrested in Novato robberies

Novato

Robbery Update: During February 2022, Novato Police Department investigated two robberies which occurred at Vintage Oaks shopping center. During the robberies, the suspect displayed a gun and stole the elderly female victims’ purses. Both victims quickly notified NPD and provided detailed information to our dispatchers and officers. Neither victim reported injuries. From nearby cameras, officers obtained photographs of the suspect vehicle. The suspect vehicle, a black Kia Optima, had false license plates during both of Novato robberies. 

 NPD Detectives believed the robbery cases were linked to a similar robbery of a purse from an elderly female victim leaving the Dollar Tree in San Rafael which occurred in early February 2022.  The suspect fled the San Rafael robbery in a dark-colored sedan. 

Over the next several days, Detectives performed extensive follow-up, including obtaining video surveillance footage from locations where the suspect used the victim’s cards. At one of the locations, the suspect removed his mask, and still photographs of the suspect were obtained.  Thanks to help from an allied agency, the robbery suspect was identified as Deshawn Ford-Howard, a 33-year-old from Richmond, CA. The suspect had an extensive criminal history, including assault and numerous firearms-related arrests. 

Detectives discovered the suspect would be at a meeting in Novato on March 10, 2022. Due to the dangerous nature of these incidents and the suspect’s criminal history, the San Rafael/Novato Regional Crisis Response Team (comprised of the Special Weapons and Tactics and Crisis Negotiation Teams) and Marin County Special Investigative Unit assisted with the suspect’s arrest. Working together, the teams safely took Ford-Howard into custody. Ford-Howard was arrested without incident and a firearm was recovered as a part of the investigation. Ford-Howard was booked into the Marin County Jail for robbery, false imprisonment, burglary, elder abuse, and unlawful use of an access card. He has since posted bail and was released from custody. 

We appreciated the timely calls for help from the victims and their detailed statements about the robberies. Additionally, we are thankful for our strong partnerships with the San Rafael Police and Marin County Sheriff Office and how together, we create a safer Novato.

(The full Marinscope Cop Log report will appear in the March 23 newspapers.)