Two Arrested for Robbery; Allegedly Locked Store Employees in Cooler

LONGVIEW � Two Longview men have been arrested after allegedly locking employees in a cooler to rob their store. Longview police tell KETK that Francisco Benitez, 20 (pictured), and Genaro Villela, 17, entered a store in the 500 block of South Mobberly Avenue, and that one was armed with a knife. According to police, Benitez and Villela locked two women in the store cooler and began stealing items and loading them into their van. Police say an officer stopped and caught the robbers in the act. After searching the vehicle, the officer reportedly found the stolen cigarettes and synthetic marijuana. The suspects were booked into the Gregg County Jail on $50,000 bond each.