MCTX Sheriff Arrests Confirmed Gang Member for Armed Robbery in Magnolia

MAGNOLIA, TX -- On November 28, 2023, at about 11:15 a.m., Deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office responded to a Robbery call at a business on FM 2978 in Magnolia. Upon arrival, deputies learned that a heavily tattooed Hispanic male entered the location wearing a mask. The male pointed a firearm at the clerk and demanded cash and vape pens. While investigating the initial robbery, deputies received another 911 call of a robbery having just occurred at a separate business in the immediate area of the first. Deputies quickly viewed video surveillance footage, identifying a license plate on a silver SUV. The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office Real Time Crime Center used this license plate to locate a potential address for the suspect vehicle.

Deputies with the District 4 Patrol Division converged on the potential address for the suspect vehicle. Shortly after 12:45 p.m., deputies viewed the suspect vehicle being driven by a heavily tattooed Hispanic male, matching the description from the robberies. Deputies initiated a felony stop and took Michael Jonathan Lopez into custody. Lopez was transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where he is being held on a no bond and is charged with two counts of Aggravated Robbery. Lopez had his two young step-children in the vehicle with him at the time of arrest and during the robberies. The children were safely released to a family member. Homicide and Violent Crimes Detectives, Gang Investigations Unit, and Crime Scene Investigators all responded and are continuing their investigation.

Lopez is a confirmed gang member, has served prison time in the past for armed robbery, and is currently on probation for narcotics charges from earlier this year.

Sheriff Henderson stated, "I am so proud of the swift action of our deputies and the Real Time Crime Center. Today we brought another dangerous criminal off the streets of Montgomery County. We will continue to aggressively pursue individuals like Michael Lopez and bring them to justice."