A notorious gang member, who was previously released on parole for a murder conviction, now faces another serious felony charge after allegedly stealing a motorized shopping cart from a grocery store in Greeley earlier this month.

The Theft Incident

On November 21, local authorities were alerted to a theft in progress at a grocery store located in the 3500 block of W. 10th Street in Greeley.

Store employees promptly reported that an individual with prominent face tattoos, dressed entirely in black, had just left the premises while operating one of the store’s motorized shopping carts. The suspect, later identified as 41-year-old Jose Soriano, was last spotted heading south on the sidewalk of 35th Avenue, as detailed in the arrest affidavit.

Discovery of the Cart and Potential Evidence

Following the incident, law enforcement officers successfully located the abandoned motorized shopping cart approximately half a mile away from the grocery store, at the intersection of 13th Street and 35th Avenue.

During their investigation, authorities found an empty Pepsi can inside the cart, along with two additional cans on the road leading to the nearby bus stop, according to the affidavit.

Arrest and Confirmation of Guilt

Subsequently, the police apprehended Soriano at the mentioned bus stop, where he was found in possession of a case of Pepsi, with three cans missing.

Upon questioning, Soriano openly admitted to taking the shopping cart. His confession was further supported by the review of security camera footage, which unequivocally showed his act of theft, as stated in the affidavit.

A Troubled Past

Authorities have revealed that Soriano is a known gang member with a history of criminal activities in Greeley. Moreover, he had been released on parole for a murder conviction dating back to 2005 in Douglas County.

Legal Proceedings

Soriano was promptly taken into custody and has since been booked into the Weld County Jail without any major incident. He is scheduled to appear for a hearing on advisement at 8:30 a.m. on December 5th at the Weld District Court.