Teen arrested, armed man sought following San Gabriel liquor robbery


SAN GABRIEL >> Police arrested a teen who stole alcohol from a San Gabriel supermarket and fought with security guards who confronted him on Friday, but a man who pulled a gun on the security guards in an attempt to help the teen escape remained at large, authorities said.
The series of events began about 12:10 p.m. when a suspect, ultimately found to be a 16-year-old boy, snatched some alcoholic beverages from the Hawaii Supermarket, 120 E. Valley Blvd., San Gabriel police Sgt. Rebecca Gomez said.
Two loss prevention officers chased after the teen as he fled south down Del Mar Avenue, she said. They caught up with him in the 200 block of West Norwood Place, and they began to struggle, according to the sergeant.
A man emerged from the residential neighborhood, pointed a silver-colored handgun at the security guards and ordered them to let the young thief go, Gomez said.
Both the man and teen ran off, and officers set up a search perimeter with help from neighboring police departments.
Officers found the teen hiding behind a trash can with help from a police dog within an hour, Gomez said. He suffered minor bite injuries while being taken into custody. The allegedly stolen booze was recovered in the area.
The gunman was not found. He was described as a white or Latino man in his late-20s, of thin build, wearing a black shirt and red-and-black pants.
Gomez said the teen was examined at a hospital and taken to juvenile hall on suspicion of robbery.
Anyone with information can reach the San Gabriel Police Department at 626-308-2828. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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