Fountain Valley : 2 Men Arrested After Passer-by Sees Holdup

Two men were arrested Thursday on suspicion of armed robbery after a passer-by witnessed the holdup of a pharmacy and flagged down a patrol officer, police said.

Booked at County Jail on suspicion of armed robbery were Fred R. Ryan, 43, of Newport Beach, and Craig A. Chambers, 41, of Huntington Beach, Police Sgt. Larry Griswold said. Bail was set at $50,000 each.

Griswold said that about 5:30 p.m. a passer-by saw a robbery in progress at the Medicine Shop in the 9500 block of Garfield Avenue and flagged down Officer Daryl Nance, who arrested Ryan at the scene and got the description of a second suspect who drove off in a 1971 Ford van.

About 50 minutes later, police found the van parked less than a mile way in a residential neighborhood, he said. Police searched the vehicle and found a pellet gun and drugs believed taken in the robbery.

Chambers was arrested about 9 p.m. when he came out of hiding in some bushes between houses within 50 feet of the abandoned vehicle, police said.

Police believe that the suspects may be responsible for robberies May 1 and May 14 at the same pharmacy, Griswold said.