Detectives say two September and October break-ins led to December arrests and the seizure of guns and suspected fentanyl.
PHOENIX — Phoenix police arrested four people this week in connection with two armed home invasions reported in late September and early October, including one case in which a 10-year-old girl was held at gunpoint inside her house, authorities said.
Police identified the suspects as Scarlyn Lebron Ogando, 23; Ronnie Baez, 26; Josue Rafael Colon Rodriguez, 23; and Darol Daniel Garcia Santana, 23. Investigators say surveillance, research and court-approved searches tied the group to two incidents at different homes. Special Assignments Unit teams served search warrants at three residences on Dec. 17 and recovered multiple firearms and suspected drugs. All four were booked into jail on robbery-related counts while detectives continue reviewing evidence and witness statements. Court calendars for initial appearances were not immediately available Friday.
Detectives say the first break-in happened Sept. 29 just before 5 a.m. when three to four armed intruders forced the front door of a west Phoenix home and demanded cash from people inside. “One of the suspects grabbed a 10-year-old girl by her hair and pointed a handgun at her, forcing her around the house for approximately 30 minutes,” Phoenix Police Sgt. Lorraine Fernandez said. The men left without money or property, according to investigators. A second incident on Oct. 8 at about 2:15 p.m. began when a man at a separate Phoenix address was confronted at his front door by armed males who demanded money and forced their way in before fleeing as officers arrived.
Officers arrested the four men on Dec. 17, with help from the South Mountain Precinct Neighborhood Enforcement Team. During searches, investigators say they seized five rifles, more than 10 handguns, ammunition and about 7.5 pounds of suspected fentanyl. Court records state Ogando admitted being present at both locations and participating in the armed robberies. Police reports indicate Rodriguez told investigators he acted as a lookout. Baez and Garcia Santana denied involvement, according to paperwork reviewed by detectives. No injuries were reported in either home invasion, and no money was taken, police said. The number of intruders at each scene remains under review as detectives compare witness accounts with video and phone data.
Investigators say the two homes may have been selected after recent appliance deliveries. According to court documents, victims at both addresses had major appliances delivered within six months from big-box retailers through a contracted logistics service. Ogando was employed as a delivery driver for a logistics firm that works with retailers such as Home Depot and Lowe’s, records say. Detectives also linked a red Honda Civic, registered to Ogando, to one scene using city bus cameras, traffic systems and license plate readers. In the Oct. 8 incident, a woman monitoring a Ring camera at her grandfather’s home told the intruders police were on the way; the men then ran out, the paperwork says.
Authorities say witness statements described the intruders speaking Spanish and, in one case, possibly with Caribbean or Central American accents. Officers collected shell casings, door-frame fragments, digital records and surveillance clips during the scene workups and later searches. Police credited neighborhood cameras and regional data-sharing systems with helping them match vehicles and movements across several hours on both dates. Detectives emphasized that while much of the evidence is digital, analysts are working through additional tips to confirm who entered which rooms and who issued threats during each break-in.
Booking logs show the suspects face counts including armed robbery, kidnapping and burglary. Ogando also faces a prohibited possessor allegation connected to a firearm, according to court records. Police say further charges are possible after lab testing of the suspected fentanyl and the processing of seized phones. The cases will be forwarded to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for charging decisions. Next steps include formal initial appearances in Superior Court and potential status conferences to set discovery timelines. Investigators are also checking purchase and delivery records to determine whether other addresses were scoped or targeted this fall.
Most of the police work unfolded away from public view on residential streets across Phoenix and in nearby Mesa. Neighbors described early-morning and afternoon patrol activity on the two incident dates, with one witness telling officers she watched unfamiliar men pace a sidewalk before dawn. “Through surveillance and investigative work, detectives identified and located the suspects,” Fernandez said, adding that SWAT-style teams executed the warrants without injuries. Residents reported seeing unmarked vehicles stage briefly before officers moved in. Photos released by police show rows of handguns and rifles laid out for cataloging.
As of Friday afternoon, the four suspects remained in custody while detectives continued reviewing electronics and lab results. Officials said they would announce any additional arrests if warranted after tests on seized evidence and a review of delivery logs. A court hearing schedule is expected to be set in the coming days.
Author note: Last updated December 19, 2025.