PASADENA >> Police arrested a woman minutes after she robbed a Pasadena fast-food restaurant while wielding a replica AR-15, officials said.
The crime took place about 7:50 p.m. at Lucky Boy, at Walnut Street and Oakland Avenue.
Witnesses flagged down passing officers about 7:50 p.m. to report an armed woman had just carried out a robbery at the business and fled with cash, Pasadena police Lt. Tracey Ibarra said. Others called 911 to simultaneously to report the heist.
Officers immediately began searching the area, Ibarra said. As an officer looked through some bushes at Oakland Avenue and Cordova Street, a woman emerged from the shrubs and ran.
Police chased the woman down and took her into custody near the scene of the robbery, on Walnut Street, just west of Oakland Avenue, according to the lieutenant.
An item that appeared to be an AR-15 rifle was found discarded in the bushes where the woman was hiding, wrapped in cloth, officials said. It was ultimately found to be a replica.
Officers also found the woman in possession of money believed to have been taken in the restaurant robbery, Ibarra said.
Palace Edna Williams, 23, of Pasadena was booked on suspicion of robbery after being examined at a hospital due to complaints of a medical problem, according to police and Los Angeles County booking records.
She was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail pending her initial court appearance, records show.

PHOTO courtesy of the Pasadena Police Department