SIMI VALLEY : Transient Arrested in Theft After Chase
A man described by police as a Los Angeles-area transient tossed $500 in cash from a stolen car in an apparent effort to avoid arrest as police chased him from the scene of a Simi Valley robbery, authorities said Monday.
Gerald Morgan, 46, was arrested on suspicion of robbing the Pet Club, a store on Erringer Road, and of grand theft of an automobile.
The money was recovered, Simi Valley Police Lt. Anthony Harper said.
The incident began at 6 p.m. Sunday when Morgan allegedly opened the shop’s cash register while a clerk was busy with another customer, Harper said.
He scooped up about $500 and headed for the door, where the clerk confronted him, Harper said. The clerk retreated when the robber raised his fist in a threatening manner, he said.
Two Simi Valley officers spotted the robber’s vehicle on the Simi Valley Freeway about five miles from the store.
The driver refused to pull over when the officers tried to stop him and left the freeway at Kuehner Drive, tossing money from the car as he went, Harper said.
He finally stopped the car, which had been reported stolen in Burbank, and was arrested without incident, he said.
More to Read
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
