Ricardo Castillo, 31, was arrested at his home at 5 p.m. Monday in the 800 block of E. 14th Street, according to Sgt. Tony Everett, public information officer with the Big Spring Police Department.

“Investigators with the BSPD and the Howard County Sheriff's Office made an arrest in a string of recent robberies,” said Everett. “The suspect was charged with three robberies in Big Spring, including the robbery Sunday where the victim was held up at gunpoint while leaving a church in the 2100 block of Lancaster.

“He's also been charged with the Nov. 11 aggravated robbery of Sun Laundry, located in the 1500 block of Lancaster, and the Nov. 16 robbery of an 84-year-old male victim at his residence.”

According to police reports, a man matching Castillo's description attempted to take the 54-year-old woman's purse at gunpoint in the parking lot of the Iglesia Bautista Central church. The woman began frantically honking her car's horn, drawing a pair of men from the church to her rescue. The two men chased the suspect to a tan-colored, small-size pickup believed to be a Ford Ranger parked nearby.

The Nov. 16 robbery took place at a home in the 2300 block of Old Highway 80, according to Everett.

“The suspect knocked on the victim's door and claimed he was having car problems and needed to use a telephone,” said Everett. “The victim turned to get the telephone and the suspect put a handgun to his chest and demanded money. The suspect fled the scene on foot.”

And while it appears Castillo is tied to at least three robberies in Big Spring, the would-be stick-up man's woes don't end there, according to Everett.

“Later today he's (Castillo) expected to be charged with an armed robbery that took place Sunday at a convenience store in Stanton,” said Everett. “We're also expecting to charge him with the brutal May 29 robbery of a 67-year-old veteran. The victim was found east of town on the 11th Place extension. He had been beaten and robbed, and left on the side of the road with a broken hip.

“The BSPD and the HCSO continue the investigation and are working with Stanton authorities. Castillo remains in custody at this time, awaiting arraignment.”

Castillo's arrest could help the BSPD clear several of the mounting aggravated robbery reports in the Crossroads area, at least a dozen of which have been reported since Oct. 31, according to police officials.

Contact Staff Writer Thomas Jenkins at 263-7331 ext. 232 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it