NORWALK — Tips from the public Thursday led deputies to a La Mirada man suspected of committing an armed robbery while holding a young boy in his arms.
Jeremy Gallegos, 20, was booked on suspicion of robbery and child endangerment, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Detective John Moore said.
“This is quite shocking,” the detective said of the unusual crime. He’s committing an armed robbery holding a child in his arms. Anything at any point could happen.”
Officials believe Gallegos is the man pictured holding a child in a surveillance photo taken inside a liquor store in the 11000 block of Rosecrans Avenue in Norwalk  on Oct. 28, just before he allegedly brandished a handgun and robbed another man in the store’s parking lot.
The arrest came the day after sheriff’s officials released those photos to the public.
Moore said members of the public who saw those photos tipped police off about the identity of the alleged robber.
The detective said Gallegos was baby-sitting the child for friends, who knew nothing of the robbery until deputies informed them.
“The child’s fine and back with his parents,” Moore said.
“They’re not happy,” he said of the boy’s parents.
Deputies were carrying out a search warrant at Gallegos’ La Mirada home late Thursday searching for evidence linking him to the crime, Moore said.
Gallegos allegedly stole a wallet and some alcohol from the victim during the crime, sheriff’s officials said in a written statement.
The victim in the robbery was described as a 47-year-old man and was not injured in the crime, officials added.
According to sheriff’s booking records, Gallegos is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail and is due for arraignment in Bellflower Superior Court Tuesday.