The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office was notified on Tuesday at about 4:30 p.m. of an armed robbery at Redwood Coast Cellular in McKinleyville.
When deputies arrived on scene they met with the store manager and a sales representative.
The sales representative told the deputies she was working in the front when the suspect entered the store and pointed a silver handgun at her and demanded money. During the robbery, the suspect heard a noise in the back room. The suspect made the sales representative move to the back room at gun point where he discovered the store manager on the telephone. The store manager was unaware of the robbery in progress and had his wallet in his hand while placing a phone order. Seeing the suspect with the gun, the store manager immediately dropped his wallet and put his hands in the air. The suspect stole his wallet and then demanded money from the cash register. After stealing the money and wallet, the suspect ordered both victims at gunpoint into the rear store bathroom and attempted to lock them inside it. The suspect then fled the store. The victims waited a short time, exited the restroom and called 911 to report the crime. No one was injured during the robbery.
The suspect is described as male, approximately 5 feet, 6 inches tall, wearing sunglasses and a light gray or white hooded sweatshirt which he used to cover most of his face. He is of stocky build
and dark skin, possibly Hispanic or Native American, approximately 190 pounds and armed with a silver colored handgun.
The sheriff's office is asking anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity to call the sheriff's office at 445-7251 or the sheriff's office crime tip line at 268-2539.
