Alleged Ralphs robber falls off escape truck, is caught

A Costa Mesa man pleaded not guilty Friday to robbing a Ralphs grocery store after police say he pushed a store clerk and threatened to fight him while trying to escape.

Jose Jimenez, 19, was arrested just after 5 p.m. Thursday in the Ralphs parking lot at 380 E. 17th St. after he ran out of the store with a basket full of groceries, Lt. Bob Ciszek said.

A getaway driver was waiting for Jimenez outside in a 2004 black Toyota Tacoma Xtracab, Ciszek said.

Jimenez ran with one employee giving chase, police said. Jimenez jumped into the truck bed with the groceries, but fell out when the truck pulled away, Ciszek said.

When the store employee, whom police declined to identify, tried to stop Jimenez, he pushed the employee and threatened to fight him, Ciszek said.

Because Jimenez allegedly pushed the employee, the charges changed from petty theft to robbery, police said. He faces felony charges for second-degree robbery, first-degree burglary and taking property from another.

The driver made off with the groceries, police said.

— Joseph Serna