ROWLAND HEIGHTS : Grandson Arrested in Robbery of 2 Women
The grandson of an elderly woman sprayed with tear gas before she and her roommate were robbed in their Rowland Heights home last weekend was jailed along with another man Wednesday in the robbery, Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies said.
Eleanor Duff, 76, and her roommate, Grace Hausmann, 86, had just obtained $1,400 from cashing their Social Security checks when the intruder forced his way into the house Sunday, sprayed them with the substance and took the cash, said Deputy Rich Erickson.
The grandson, Melvin Handke, 22, “planned it,” and the other suspect, Gary Ebert, 31, “carried it out because Handke would have been recognized,” Erickson said.
The two men were booked on suspicion of robbery and assault with a caustic chemical. Each was being held in lieu of $25,000 bail.
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