Redwood City man arrested in robbery, attempted robbery

EAST PALO ALTO — A Peninsula man was arrested in connection with a robbery in East Palo Alto and an attempted robbery in Palo Alto on Sunday, according to authorities.

The robbery happened at Jack Farrell Park in East Palo Alto and the attempted robbery happened near the intersection of Lytton Avenue and Webster Street in Palo Alto, the East Palo Alto and Palo Alto police departments said in a joint news release. Both incidents were reported around 10:15 a.m. Sunday.

The victim in the East Palo Alto robbery, a boy, told police three people armed with handguns robbed him of personal belongings. One of the suspects smashed the boy’s phone on the ground, breaking it and delaying his call to police, according to authorities.

In the Palo Alto incident, a man “presented a firearm” and told a woman in her 30s to hand over her purse, police said.

The victim asked to keep some items in her purse, according to authorities. The suspect agreed, but he left the scene in a green Kia Soul as she was removing the items.

Police said neither of the victims was physically injured.

Palo Alto police officers spotted a Kia near the intersection of University and Woodland avenues and tried to conduct a traffic stop. The driver instead sped away.

The officers pursued the Kia to the intersection of University Avenue and Donohoe Street, where it was involved in a hit-and-run collision, according to authorities. The driver of the other vehicle was taken to an area hospital with minor injuries.

The Kia came to a stop a short distance away. Police said two suspects ran from the car and escaped while a third, a 20-year-old Redwood City man, stayed at the scene.

He was identified as the suspect in the Palo Alto attempted robbery, according to authorities.

Police said officers discovered the Kia was stolen in Suisun City. A search of the car also yielded a replica firearm and property that was stolen in the East Palo Alto robbery.

East Palo Alto officers arrested the man on suspicion of robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and possession of stolen property, as well as brandishing a replica gun, possession of burglary tools and inflicting injury on a child, according to authorities.

The Palo Alto Police Department, meanwhile, plans to submit the case to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office and request that charges be filed against the man.

Anyone with information related to the case can contact the police department at 650-329-2413. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call or text 650-383-8984 or email paloalto@tipnow.org.