Police Arrest Suspected Robber After Standoff

Aman who reportedly robbed the same fast-food restaurant four times in the past two months was arrested after a five-hour standoff with police at the Mission Hills mobile-home park where he lived, authorities said Sunday.

William Scott, 39, was being held without bail in connection with the robbery of a Pioneer Chicken restaurant on Van Nuys Boulevard after members of a SWAT team stormed his mobile home and arrested him at gunpoint Saturday night, Los Angeles Police Lt. Thomas Jones said.

Scott, a parolee with a record of burglary, robbery and forgery, was found hiding in the shower about 10:45 p.m. He was unarmed and did not resist arrest, Jones said.

Earlier in the evening, police fired tear gas into the mobile home in the 10800 block of Columbus Avenue in an unsuccessful attempt to force Scott out. No one was injured.

The incident began shortly before 6 p.m. when Scott walked into the restaurant and demanded money, police said. A cashier who asked not to be named said Scott had robbed the restaurant at least three other times in the past two months.

The cashier said Scott did not appear to be armed Saturday, but did have a gun in previous robberies. She said Scott took about $80 from the cash register and ran to his car. A manager followed him and noted his license plate number.

Police traced the car to the mobile home and arrived a few minutes later.

Jones said police surrounded the mobile home and told Scott to come out. He refused, but allowed his elderly mother to leave, Jones said. After several requests for Scott to surrender, police fired tear gas into the mobile home, but that failed to drive him out, Jones said.

Police finally stormed the mobile home and arrested Scott. Jones said Scott told police that he did not come out earlier because he was afraid.