Anaheim : Two Off-Duty Officers Catch Robbery Suspect

Two off-duty Inglewood police officers captured a youthful armed robbery suspect Tuesday night as he fled from an appliance store in the 1000 block of North Tustin Avenue, police said.

The officers, who had been shopping in an adjoining store, identified themselves to the fleeing suspect and showed their badges, Anaheim Police Lt. Bob Puckett said.

But the 16-year-old suspect, whose name was not released because of his age, pointed a pistol at Officers Michael Harkins and James Jordan, who had drawn their weapons, Puckett said.

Jordan fired twice, missing the youth, who then threw down his gun and surrendered, police said. The youth apparently did not fire his weapon, Puckett added.

He was booked on suspicion of robbery and held at Orange County Juvenile Hall.

A second suspect believed to be a male, 18 to 20 years old, about 5 feet, 6 inches tall and 135 pounds, escaped on foot, Puckett said.

Police said two suspects, armed with a pistol, entered Phil and Jim’s TV and Appliance store at about 8 p.m. and took an undisclosed amount of money and jewelry from store employees and customers. During the robbery, an employee slipped away unnoticed and called Anaheim police from an adjacent business.