Off-Duty Police Officer Spots Wanted Robbery Suspect in Pasadena

Police arrested a robbery suspect Sunday night after an off-duty police officer recognized his description from a crime reported the previous day, authorities said.

The robbery took place about 5:15 p.m. Saturday at a gas station in the 300 block of North Lake Avenue, Pasadena police Lt. Anthony Burgess said.

A man was getting ready to pump gas when another man snatched his wallet from his hand and ran away, Burgess said. The robber fled the scene in a pickup truck with a distinctive white-and-orange camper shell.

An off-duty officer happened to spot a man and truck matching the description just before 9:40 p.m. Sunday in the same neighborhood, said Lt. Sean Dawkins.

Uniformed officers were summoned to the scene and took the suspect into custody without a struggle, according to the lieutenant.

A black airsoft BB gun was found inside the truck, Dawkins added.

Jerriel Ellisan Sanders, 31, was booked on suspicion of robbery, according to police and Los Angeles County booking records. He was being held without bail pending his initial appearance in L.A. County Superior Court.