Officials searching for gun-wielding man who stole smokes, soda
HEMET — Officials are searching for a man who allegedly robbed a Hemet business earlier this afternoon. Witnesses reported the suspect flashed a gun while stealing several packs of cigarettes and a soda from Walgreens at the intersection of S. Sanderson and Stetson avenues.
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Hemet police officers were dispatched to the Walgreens around noon after receiving reports of a theft of merchandise from the business. 911 callers reported the suspect was armed with a handgun.
Although officers arrived at the scene within moments of the dispatched call, the alleged suspect had already fled the area and was last seen running toward nearby WalMart.
Officers investigating the incident learned a black male adult had fled the store after stealing three packs of Newport cigarettes and a soda. At some point during the incident, the alleged thief flashed a black handgun, which witnesses and victims said was tucked into his waistband. The total value of the stolen merchandise was less than $20.
The man was described as about 6’1″ tall and weighing about 230 pounds. He was reportedly wearing dark blue jeans, and a gray shirt or hoodie under a denim jacket with light gray sleeves.
Officers later obtained surveillance footage of the man that showed him running southbound through the store’s parking lot into Page Plaza. The center features numerous restaurants and retail businesses including WalMart.
“I can’t even begin to believe these clowns now are willing to risk their freedom and their futures – hell, even their lives – over twenty bucks worth of smokes and a soda,” Hemet resident Jerry Westerbrand, who arrived at the Walgreens to pick up a prescription just moments after today’s robbery, later said. “To risk everything for something so ridiculous just boggles my mind.”
Anyone with information about this investigation or who knows the identity and whereabouts of the alleged suspect is encouraged to contact Hemet PD’s Emergency Communication’s Center at (951) 765-2400. Callers can remain anonymous.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.
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