Two teens arrested on suspicion of robbing Napa jewelry store

NAPA, Calif. -- Napa police have arrested two juveniles on suspicion of robbing a jewelry store and attacking one of its employees Monday evening.

The 17-year-old suspects were wearing masks when they entered the Napa Valley Jewelers store at 1317 Napa Town Center around 5:20 p.m., police Lt. Debbie Peecook said.

One of the teens attacked Robert Porter with pliers and continued assaulting him after he fell to the ground in medical distress, Peecook said.

The other employee, Kent Gardella, yelled at the suspects and hit one of them with a metal pole used to determine ring sizes, Peecook said.

Both suspects fled but one of them, who was later identified by Gardella, was arrested inside the Pearl Street Garage, according to police.

Construction workers spotted the other teen suspect on a bicycle in downtown Napa around 8 a.m. Tuesday, and he was arrested near the Pearl Street Garage by Detective Andy Hess, Peecook said.

One of the teens is on probation in Napa County and the other is on probation in King County. They were in a treatment home in Nevada County but left on Saturday and were picked up by a friend and taken to Napa County, Peecook said.

The teens were arrested on suspicion of robbery, attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy, elder abuse and violation of probation, Peecook said.

Porter was in cardiac arrest when police found him in the store and was in critical condition Tuesday at Queen of the Valley Medical Center, Peecook said.