WHITTIER — A man tried to rob another man while brandishing a cell phone like a weapon early Tuesday, police said.
A 37-year-old man was walking about 3:20 a.m. in the 9000 block of Bright Avenue, near Foxley Drive, when he was confronted by a Latino man, about 5 feet 6 inches tall, 180 pounds and wearing a gray hooded sweat shirt and blue jeans, Whittier police Lt. Steve Dean said.
The would-be robber appeared intoxicated and was laughing when he made a gesture with an item in his pocket as if it were a gun, the lieutenant said. But the victim noticed the item was a cell phone.
As the victim began to run away, the man grabbed him by his shoulders and demanded he turn over property, Dean said. The victim broke free and fled.