A parolee suspected of robbing a Manhattan Village Shopping Center store last month was arrested after a standoff with police during which he barricaded himself in his home for several hours.
On Dec. 3, Montebello resident Joshua Bates, 32, allegedly robbed See’s Candies store, 3004 N. Sepulveda Blvd. while several customers were holiday shopping.
Police said Bates entered the store at 7:30 p.m., approached a cashier and reached for his waistband as if he had a gun. He then told the employee he was robbing the store.
In fear for her life, the cashier handed over an undisclosed amount of cash to Bates, according to authorities.
“We don’t know if he really had a gun at that time or not,” said Manhattan Beach Police Officer Stephanie Martin.
Eyewitnesses said they saw the suspect travel eastbound in a light blue SUV out of the mall parking lot before fleeing north on Sepulveda Boulevard.
After searching the area, police collected fingerprints from the store that matched those of Bates, who is on parole for previous robberies, authorities said.
“He had picked up a box of candy and asked how much it was,” Martin said. “That’s how we got the prints.”
Authorities learned that Bates was wanted for parole violations, including failure to check into his residence. He was also being investigated by the Whittier Police Department for similar robberies.
Whittier police identified Bates through photographic line-ups.
On Dec. 7, a multi-agency fugitive task force went to Bates’ Montebello home to arrest him.
After Bates barricaded himself inside, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department SWAT team arrived and deployed tear gas into the house before arresting him.
On Dec. 29, the MBPD filed robbery charges against Bates with the Whittier branch of the LA County District Attorney’s Office.
Martin said Bates is suspected in as many as seven robberies throughout LA and Orange counties. He faces six felony counts of robbery — one with Manhattan Beach, three with LA County and two with Whittier.
Bates is being held without bail in the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles, where he awaits a Jan. 20 court date at Whittier Municipal Court. ER
A parolee suspected of robbing a Manhattan Village Shopping Center store last month was arrested after a standoff with police during which he barricaded himself in his home for several hours. On Dec. 3, Montebello resident Joshua Bates, 32, allegedly robbed See’s Candies store, 3004 N. Sepulveda Blvd. while several customers were holiday shopping.
Police said Bates entered the store at 7:30 p.m., approached a cashier and reached for his waistband as if he had a gun.He then told the employee he was robbing the store. </span></p><p style=”margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”><span style=”font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: x-small;”>In fear for her life, the cashier handed over an undisclosed amount of cash to Bates, according to authorities. </span></p><p style=”margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”><span style=”font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: x-small;”>“We don’t know if he really had a gun at that time or not,” said Manhattan Beach Police Officer Stephanie Martin. </span></p><p style=”margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”><span style=”font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: x-small;”>Eyewitnesses said they saw the suspect travel eastbound in a light blue SUV out of the mall parking lot before fleeing north on Sepulveda Boulevard.</span></p><p style=”margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”><span style=”font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: x-small;”>After searching the area, police collected fingerprints from the store that matched those of Bates, who is on parole for previous robberies, authorities said.</span></p><p style=”margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”><span style=”font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: x-small;”>“He had picked up a box of candy and asked how much it was,” Martin said. “That’s how we got the prints.”</span></p><p style=”margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”><span style=”font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: x-small;”>Authorities learned that Bates was wanted for parole violations, including failure to check into his residence. He was also being investigated by the Whittier Police Department for similar robberies. </span></p><p style=”margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”><span style=”font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: x-small;”>Whittier police identified Bates through photographic line-ups.</span></p><p style=”margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”><span style=”font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: x-small;”>On Dec. 7, a multi-agency fugitive task force went to Bates’ Montebello home to arrest him. </span></p><p style=”margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”><span style=”font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: x-small;”>After Bates barricaded himself inside, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department SWAT team arrived and deployed tear gas into the house before arresting him. </span></p><p style=”margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”><span style=”font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: x-small;”>On Dec. 29, the MBPD filed robbery charges against Bates with the Whittier branch of the LA County District Attorney’s Office. Martin said Bates is suspected in as many as seven robberies throughout LA and Orange counties. He faces six felony counts of robbery — one with Manhattan Beach, three with LA County and two with Whittier. Bates is being held without bail in the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles, where he awaits a Jan. 20 court date at Whittier Municipal Court.
