5 arrested after robbery at house party

 

Five men were in custody Monday on suspicion of robbing several people outside a San Marcos house party, authorities said.

Party guests told police that five men robbed them at gunpoint outside the house at 505 Honeyglen Dr. at 2:50 a.m. Saturday, according to Sgt. Allan Paez of the San Diego County sheriff’s San Marcos Station. They provided a detailed description of the suspects and their vehicle that was radioed to other units.

“A short time later, deputies in Vista located the suspect vehicle, occupied by five suspects, at 955 Postal Way,” Paez said. “Deputies conducted a high-risk felony vehicle stop and successfully took the suspects into custody.”

A search of the vehicle turned up the property seized in the robbery and the gun used by the robbers, he said. “A curbside lineup was conducted and all of the suspects were positively identified by the victims as the robbers,” Paez said.

The five suspects were booked into the Vista Detention Facility on suspicion of robbery, conspiracy, receiving stolen property, use of a firearm in commission of a robbery and committing a felony on behalf of a criminal street gang.

The suspects were identified as Sam Niu, 21, booked on 10 counts, with bail set at $640,000; Gregg Leauanae, 20, seven counts, $490,000 bail; Johnnie Edwards, 18, 10 counts, $620,000 bail; Judd Liulamaga, 18, 10 counts, $565,000 bail; and Mautofu Maiava, 19, 20 counts, for whom no bail was set.

The suspects were scheduled to appear Tuesday in the North County Courthouse in Vista.