A Los Angeles man who threatened a gas station attendant with a canned beverage inside a sock as a weapon while he stole several packs of cigarettes was arrested on Thursday, Jan. 31.
This story begins on Tuesday, Jan. 29, at 4:55pm when officers of the Santa Monica Police Department went to the Mobil Gas Station located at 731 Santa Monica Boulevard after they had received a report of a robbery.
When the officers arrived they spoke with the employee who had called 911. She told the officers that a man entered the store part of the gas station carrying a sock, and inside the sock was a 16 ounce canned beverage.
The man then said that he would use the sock and beverage as a weapon if the employee did anything.
The man then reached over the counter before the employee had a chance to shut the security window and took several packs of cigarettes.
The man then walked out of the store.
The officers, at that time, searched the area without success, but forensic experts arrived and processed the crime scene and collected surveillance video film.
Two days later, the officers received another call from the gas station telling them that the suspect had returned and was in the restroom.
The officers hasted to the scene and detained the man as he exited the restroom.
This 28-year-old LA resident was arrested and charged with robbery. Bail was set at $50,000.
Editor’s Note: These reports are part of a regular police coverage series entitled “Alert Police Blotter” (APB), which injects some minor editorial into certain police activities in Santa Monica. Not all of the Mirror’s coverage of incidents involving police are portrayed in this manner. More serious crimes and police-related activities are regularly reported without editorial in the pages of the Santa Monica Mirror and its website, smmirror.com.
