A violent week in Menlo Park A violent week in Menlo Park (August 18, 2004)

Three violent crimes occurred in Menlo Park last week, including two armed robberies.

At about 3:45 a.m. Sunday, August 8, someone struck a man in the head with a shovel outside his residence in the 1200 block of Henderson Avenue, Menlo Park police said. The assailant then fled.

The next day at about 9:30 p.m., three men, described as African-American and wearing black, hooded sweatshirts with bandanas over their faces, entered the mini-mart portion of the Chevron Gas Station at 1110 Marsh Road and robbed the store at gunpoint, said Menlo Park Police Officer Scott Mackdanz.

After pistol-whipping the clerk, the robbers took money from the register and fled on foot, said Officer Mackdanz. Police and the California Highway Patrol searched the area but could not find the suspects.

Two days later, at about 9 p.m. Wednesday, August 11, four to six armed men, also described as African-American with covered faces and wearing dark clothing, robbed La Hacienda Market at 1933 Menalto Ave. at gunpoint, said Menlo Park Police Sgt. Paul Kunkel. No customers were in the store and no shots were fired, but the robbers assaulted several employees. All injuries were minor, Sgt. Kunkel said. A search of the area by police yielded no results, Sgt. Kunkel said.

Police are asking anyone with information on these cases to call 330-6300.

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