Police Shutdown I-210 Freeway, Nab Two Robbery Suspects

Pasadena police stopped a van driven by an armed suspect who had just stolen an expensive tool from a hardware store and threatened the store manager with a knife before fleeing on the eastbound 210 Freeway Friday night about 6 p.m.

Pasadena Police Lt. Pete Hettema said the incident began at True Value Hardware store near West Eureka Street at North Fair Oaks Avenue when the man, after entering the store, asked to see an expensive tool inside a locked case.

When the clerk opened the case, the man grabbed the equipment, ran out of the store and jumped into a waiting blue van containing several other occupants.

The store manager pursued the robber and demanded he return the item. Instead the suspect threatened the store manager with a knife, then sped away.

Witnesses provided the vehicle description and license plate to the police. A Pasadena police helicopter spotted the van from the air as it fled, heading eastbound on the 210 Freeway.

Hettema said that police immediately brought to bear enough patrol units to cut off, surround and stop the van on on the Altadena Drive off ramp. The occupants were detained without incident.

Two suspects were arrested, police said.

Tracy Ingram, 48, of Baldwin Park and Eric Browne, 55, of Los Angeles were both booked for robbery and assault with a deadly weapon.

No one was injured during the incident and the stolen tool was recovered.

An additional man, woman and a child that were inside the van who did not participate in the robbery or the escape were released at the scene along with the vehicle, authorities said.