Man robbed while standing on corner of Yuma street

Victim was standing on a street corner

One person is in custody following an alleged armed robbery of a man standing on a street corner and a brief police chase through Yuma.

At approximately 6:07 p.m. Wednesday, officers responded to a report of an armed robbery that took place in the 1500 block of South Avenue A.

Sgt. Lori Franklin, a spokesperson for the Yuma Police Department, said that the victim told officers he was standing in the northwest corner of South Avenue A when a white BMW pulled up to him.

At that point, Franklin said, a passenger inside the vehicle demanded property from the victim while brandishing a handgun.

“The handgun appeared to have a malfunction, and that is when the victim ran from the area and called police,” Franklin said.

A few minutes later, an officer located the vehicle in the area of 8th Street and Avenue B and attempted a traffic stop on it.

Franklin said the driver refused to stop and was pursued by YPD officers. A short time later, the pursuit was called off due to safety reasons.

“Two police cars did collide with each other during the pursuit,” Franklin said. “Neither officer was injured.”

Franklin said the vehicle was last seen crossing the Ocean-to- Ocean Bridge into California. The Imperial County Sheriff’s Office and Quechan Tribal Police were notified by dispatch.

The white BMW was found abandoned a short time later in a parking lot in Winterhaven and recovered.

At approximately 10:44 p.m., one suspect was located and taken into custody. Franklin said there are three suspects still outstanding, one male and two females, with unknown descrip- tions at this time.

“He was located back here in Yuma,” Franklin said.

The white BMW had been reported stolen shortly after midnight on March 15.

YPD asks anyone with information about this case to call (928) 373-4700 or 78-Crime at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous.

James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@ yumasun.com or 539-6854. Find him on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ YSJamesGilbert or on Twitter @YSJamesGilbert.