On Wednesday at approximately 9:30 a.m., the Starbucks at the intersection of Broadway and E 3rd St. in Downtown Chico reported to officers that a subject had shoplifted and then pulled a taser on an employee before escaping.

The store noted that the subject had stolen a sandwich and when confronted had taken out his taser and laid it onto the table, in clear view.

Following the suspect’s take-off, Chico State University’s Police Department, with park rangers en route, began a search for the suspect. Officers searched for a clean-cut white male adult wearing a flannel jacket. Locations investigated by officers included the Physical Science Building and the Bidwell Bowl Amphitheater of Chico State.

At 9:36 a.m., officers reported successfully identifying and arresting the suspect named Joseph Louis Rocanella, 26, of Chico.

Previous to the armed robbery, Rocanella had been arrested and held in Butte County Jail for exhibiting a deadly weapon.

This case is now closed, but Chico State Police Department and Chico Police Department encourages the community to report any suspicious activity.

Kimberly Morales can be reached at [email protected] or @kimberlymnews on Twitter.