San Rafael police arrested a suspected gang member accused of robbing a man because of the color of his shirt.
Dixon Hernandez Gonzalez, 22, of San Rafael, was booked into Marin County Jail Thursday on suspicion of robbery, violation of probation and participating in a street gang.
The incident happened Dec. 12 on Novato Street in the Canal neighborhood, San Rafael police Lt. Dan Fink said.
Two suspects allegedly confronted a man, questioning him to see if he was a gang member. The suspects asked the victim to remove his shirt and a necklace, police said.
When the victim took off the necklace, one suspect punched him in the face.
A patrol officer who witnessed the attack attempted to confront the suspects, but they ran away on foot, taking the necklace with them, police said.
The suspects left behind a car that was towed for evidence. Later that day, one suspect was identified as Gonzalez, but officers were unable to locate him.
The arrest happened during a broader compliance sweep of probationers. The sweep was conducted at various Marin sites on Thursday by probation officers, sheriff’s detectives, Novato police and San Rafael police.
Gonzalez was arrested at an apartment complex on Redwood Highway in Mill Valley.
Police are still searching for the second suspect whose name is being withheld due to the active investigation, Fink said.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the San Rafael Police Department at 415-485-3000. Interpreters are available to assist tipsters. Callers may leave anonymous tips.
The department also has a website set up to accept tips without leaving identifying information. The department’s “silent witness tip form” is available on the web at srpd.org/tips.