New-Found Friendliness Is Foundering : Candidate Faces Off With Armed Robbers Before TV Debate

Six hours before a televised City Council candidates’ debate, three robbers armed with a sawed-off shotgun and a semiautomatic weapon swept through the studio, herding employees, visitors and one of the candidates from room to room as they searched for money.

City Council candidate Nancy Lopez, who was in the studio to work on a cable show she produces for the Hispanic Youth Task Force, said she was shaken by Wednesday’s robbery. But she returned that evening to participate in the forum with council rivals Boyd Bredenkamp and Bob Dahms.

Craig Heiting, Continental Cablevision general manager, said the robbers took about $500. None of the people in the studio were injured. Heiting said he doesn’t know why the cable studio was targeted, since it seldom has much cash. Police said Thursday there had been no arrests.

The three candidates will hold another debate at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the social hall of the Westmont United Methodist Church, 1781 W. 9th St., Pomona. The forum is sponsored by the church and the League of Women Voters.