April 7, 2022 - Merced – On April 3, 2022, a Merced man wanted in connection to several robberies was arrested in Stockton, Ca. Demetrius Lavelle Rodgers (39) went on the run for 
nearly two months after robbing 5 convenience stores in Merced. The robberies occurred between January and February of 2022. Rodgers was arrested by officers of the Stockton Police Gang Unit and booked into the San Joaquin County Jail. Rodgers was transferred to the Merced County Jail where he remains in custody.
In the early morning hours of January 4, 2022, Merced Police began investigating a series of armed robberies. The following are the dates and locations where the robberies occurred:
January 4, 2022:
Case Number: 2022-625
7-11 located at 77 E. Olive Ave. Merced (Armed Robbery)
Case Number: 2022-626
Chevron located at 655 E. Main St. Merced (Armed Robbery)
January 16, 2022:
Case Number: 2022-3123
AMPM located at 1625 W. Hwy 140 Merced (Armed Robbery)
February 1, 2022:
Case Number: 2022-6547
Merced Smoke Shop located at 1420 Yosemite Pkwy Merced (Armed Robbery)
Case Number: 2022-6549
7-11 located at 1107 Loughborough Dr. Merced (Armed Robbery)
Detective Christian Lupian was assigned as the lead investigator. Detective Lupian determined that the suspect who entered the stores was working with an accomplice, who acted as the lookout and getaway driver. The accomplice was identified as Leonard Vernon Paige (54) of Merced. Detectives located Paige on February 3, 2022, and arrested him for his participation in the robberies. The suspect who entered the stores and committed the robberies was identified as Demetrius Lavelle Rodgers (39) of Merced.
Merced Police are asking anyone with any information regarding this incident to contact Detective Christian Lupian at (209) 385-7844 or by email at lupianc@cityofmerced.org.
Other ways to contact us or report crime include:
For any emergency call or text 911
For non-emergency call (209) 385-6912
Anonymous Tip Line (Non-emergency) call (209) 385-4725
Anonymous Tips online at http://www.mercedareacrimestoppers.org/index.html.
Some crimes can be reported online through the Merced PD website https://www.cityofmerced.org/departments/police.
Source: Merced Police Department
Related: Merced Police Requests Public’s Assistance Identifying AM PM Armed Robbery Suspect
