On Friday we told you about the ruthless robbery and attempted rape that occurred at the Blue Lagoon bar on Euhprates Avenue on Thursday night. The suspect was captured y police as he was fleeing and that man – now identified as 19 year old Abel Arana was today formally charged in court with three counts of robbery, one count of attempted rape, and a count of keeping a prohibited firearm.
The bar’s owner told us that at closing time on Thursday night at 10:30 Arana, who lives on King Street around the corner from the bar, barged in with a shotgun and relieved Sulma Barillas and Silvia Payne of their cell phones. Before leaving he attempted to rape one of the waitresses but he was unsuccessful. During the scuffle – one waitress escaped and ran to the owner who called police. They nabbed Arana just as he was about to flee the bar. He threw away the stolen cash while attempting to flee.
No plea was taken for the attempted murder charge but Arana pleaded not guilty to the three counts of robbery and for the possession of the prohibited firearm. He was denied bail and remanded to prison until March 3rd..
Abel Arana had recently been released from jail on bail where he had been remanded since his arraignment on September 4th of 2008 for the attempted murder of Phillip Lightburn in August of 2008. His adjournment date for that case is February 18th.
