The Los Angeles Police Department has put a stop to a spate of early morning heists after nabbing two armed robbery suspects in separate incidents earlier this month. The LAPD's Southeast Division robbery detectives declared the arrests in a statement released to the public.
In the first case, authorities reported that a man, later identified as Amauje Ferguson, a 27-year-old from Nevada, threatened a convenience store clerk with a handgun and made off with cash on December 18th. Ferguson struck again two days later at a different store doing the same thing and after a dramatic chase where he reportedly discarded money and clothes out of his car window, the cops caught up with him, the items dumped during the chase were linked to the armed robbery.
Ferguson faced interrogation and was subsequently tied to an additional robbery which took place a couple of hours before the El Segundo Boulevard incident, as per the LAPD's account. He has been booked on no bail with three counts of robbery filed against him by the District Attorney as of December 22.
The second arrest followed on Christmas Eve morning when Charles Christopher, a 24-year-old Los Angeles local, allegedly held up another convenience store clerk at gunpoint; however, the LAPD's Air Support Division played a crucial role in this apprehension, directing ground officers to his hideout in Compton where Christopher was arrested with the help of a Tactical Flight Officer, and firearm cash, and the clothing from the robbery was seized, he has been booked for robbery with bail set at $100,000.
The LAPD clarified that the incidents involving Ferguson and Christopher are considered unrelated and continues to reach out to the community for any further information. Tips can be relayed through various channels including the LA Regional Crime Stoppers website and the "P3 Tips" mobile application. The detectives heading the investigations urge those with information to come forward to help close these cases firmly.
