Man held after taqueria heist was thwarted accused of similar Sacramento taco stand robberies

A man arrested by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office after an attempted robbery at a taco stand has been accused of similar crimes at three separate eateries across the capital region, including at Chando’s Tacos in North Sacramento, police said.

Employees at a taco stand in south Sacramento fought off 21-year-old Brandon McGrath after deputies said he pointed a gun at them Friday night. Workers held the suspect until deputies and Sacramento police officers arrived to the taqueria near Fruitridge Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

The same man faces charges in connection to striking a worker’s head at Chando’s Tacos and demanding money on Oct. 28, police spokesperson Officer Anthony Gamble said previously.

McGrath is also accused of hitting two other North Sacramento-area taquerias in about 15 minutes on Oct. 29, police said.

The first incident happened near East Commerce Way and New Market Deal just before 8:45 p.m. The second happened in the 3800 block of Northgate Boulevard, police said. In both cases, the robber fled before police arrived.

McGrath was arrested Saturday and now faces charges connected to the other robberies, as well as charges of attempted robbery, carrying a loaded firearm and having metal knuckles, according to the online jail log.

“This was a collaborative effort between our officers, detectives, the Sheriff’s (Office), and just as importantly, the community,” Sacramento police said in a news release.

He is being held in lieu of $440,000 in cash and was scheduled to appear in court Thursday, according to the online jail log.

This story was originally published January 9, 2025 at 11:10 AM.