Two soldiers arrested related to robbery and kidnapping pizza delivery driver

Two men arrested in Olympia for allegedly robbing and kidnapping a pizza delivery driver were members of the U.S. Army currently living at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, authorities say.

Daniel Cano-Real, 19, and Jonathan J. Medina, 20, are being held in the Thurston County Jail on suspicion of first-degree kidnapping, first-degree robbery, second-degree assault, possession of a stolen firearm, third-degree theft and vehicle prowling. Both are being held on $150,000 bail.

According to court documents, just past midnight on Sunday an Olympia police officer pulled over a vehicle heading the wrong way down a one-way street near the Hands-On Children’s Museum. The officer reported finding a man sitting in the car with his hands tied with a zip-tie restraint. The man told police he had been kidnapped. The other two men in the car — Cano-Real and Medina — were taken into custody without further incident.

Police say they found a gun and a knife in the car.

The alleged victim told police he was working as a delivery driver for Domino’s, when the suspects drove a vehicle behind his, blocking him in a driveway. A man wearing a mask and wielding a gun approached his car, told him to get out and ushered him to the other vehicle, where the other suspect held him at gunpoint. The suspects then stole money and a pizza from the victim’s car.

One of the suspects then drove the victim’s car into some bushes to hide it, according to court documents. When police recovered the car, they found a gun inside that had been reported stolen out of Tacoma, allegedly left there by the suspect.

The suspects then allegedly drove around Olympia with the man tied in the car until they were pulled over.

Cano-Real spoke with officers, saying Medina brought up the idea of committing a robbery while the two were at a hookah lounge in Tacoma.

“Cano-Real told me Medina drove to Olympia and drove around random neighborhoods looking for someone to rob. Cano-Real stated as he and Medina drove around Medina prepped him by discussing a plan to commit the robbery as well as providing him gloves and the firearm to commit the robbery,” read court documents.

During a hearing this afternoon in Thurston County Superior Court, Deputy Prosecutor Scott Jackson said the two suspects are members of the U.S. Army and were stationed in Pierce County. Jackson argued for a bail of $250,000. He argued that the alleged crime was planned and calculated and the victim chosen at random.

Public Defender Luke Swinney noted that the two had no prior criminal history. He asked that the two be released on their own personal recognizance, saying pre-trial services had been in contact with their commanding officer at the base.

Court Commissioner Nathan Kortokrax ordered bail be set at $150,000, saying he was concerned the two may commit further violent offenses. They both have arraignment hearings scheduled for April 13.