Facebook seller attacked, robbed of Steelers jerseys at busy rest stop

One suspect was arrested and another is being sought for allegedly attacking and robbing a Facebook Marketplace seller at a busy Prosser parking lot.

The seller agreed to meet an unidentified man at the Prosser Rest Area with 10 Pittsburg Steeler football jerseys he had advertised for sale on Facebook Marketplace, according to court documents and Prosser police.

The plan was to meet at the busy shopping and food area just off Interstate 82 with the shirts.

As the victim was showing the jerseys, Jose R. Munoz, 45, of Prosser, allegedly ran up and punched the victim in the face, knocking him down, court documents said.

When the victim was on the ground, Munoz allegedly cursed at him and then told the buyer to grab the shirts, court documents said. They grabbed the shirts, along with the man’s new iPhone and other items, court documents said.

The victim said he knew Munoz but not the first man to arrive. He said Munoz’s wife had a no-contact order against the victim.

The seller was left with a gash on the side of his face, court documents said.

Prosser investigators received help from the Benton County Sheriff’s Office Pro-Act team. They used Flock, an automated license plate reader system, and other technology to find the car Munoz was driving. Police searched at his home on Old Inland Empire Highway and found the 10 jerseys in the trailer.

Munoz was booked into the Benton County jail on suspicion of first-degree robbery and second-degree theft.

Police said it’s an active investigation and anyone with information is asked to email Officer Dustin Connolly at dconnolly@ci.prosser.wa.us or through the non-emergency dispatch line at 509-628-0333.