Hollister Police arrest attempted armed robbery suspect

Hollister Police arrested a man Sunday who is accused of brandishing a crowbar while trying to take money from a pregnant woman.

According to police, Michael Cranton, 32, approached the woman after she had withdrawn cash from an ATM in the 200 block of McCray Street. He was carrying a crowbar and demanded cash. The woman’s husband stepped in and struggled with the suspect, who dropped the crowbar and drove off in a car.

Responding officers stopped a car matching the vehicle’s description and arrested Cranton without incident.

It is not the first time Cranton has been accused of brandishing a crowbar. Police say he is currently on felony probation stemming from a 2014 incident where he pleaded no contest to striking another person in the head with a crowbar.

He was booked into the San Benito County Jail, charged with attempted armed robbery and probation violation. His bail was set at $70,000.