MAN LINKED TO ARMED ROBBERY.

Byline: Daily News

NEWHALL - A Newhall man arrested in a misdemeanor drinking-in-public case has been linked to the armed robbery of a liquor store, Santa Clarita Valley sheriff's officials said.

Alfredo Maldonado was the gunman in the March 18 robbery of Side Store Liquor in Newhall, sheriff's officials said. At the time of the heist, Maldonado was a suspect, but there was no evidence that allowed deputies to arrest him, according to a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department press release. Maldonado was arrested by the department's Community Interaction Team the night of Aug. 3 on a warrant for drinking in a public park, the release said.

Team members did not return calls seeking additional information.

Robbery and weapons charges have been filed against the suspect, and Maldonado faces a preliminary hearing later this month to determine whether there is enough evidence to order a trial on the felony charges.