Police have arrested one of two suspects on suspicion of threatening a gas station clerk with a three-foot-long tree branch during a robbery at the station.
Herlin Mendez, 28, of Buena Park was arrested Tuesday after Irvine police detectives received an anonymous tip from a caller who saw the surveillance video aired on television Monday, according to Irvine police Lt. Barry Aninag.
At the time of Mendez's arrest, police also found the 1995 Ford mini-van that was used during the robbery, according to police. A tree limb resembling the one used as a weapon during the robbery was found in the van, police said.
Police said Mendez, along with another man who remains at-large, robbed the Shell gas station in the 6100 block of Trabuco Road on Nov. 22.
One man walked into the business and posed as a customer by asking if he could purchase some tires. Shortly after, a second man carrying a three-foot tree limb entered the store and approached the clerk at the cash register, according to police.
The second man threatened the clerk with the tree limb and demanded the money from the cash register, police said. The first man then reached over the counter and tried to open the register drawer.
The men demanded the clerk open the drawer, and the clerk complied, police said. One man grabbed several hundred dollars while another man took several packs of cigarettes from a display. They fled in a blue Ford minivan, according to Aninag.
Irvine patrol officers were on scene within minutes of the crime, although they were unable to find the suspects or vehicle.
The other suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his early 20s, six feet tall, 160 pounds with black hair wearing wire-rimmed glasses, a black shirt, black pants and black dress shoes.
Anyone with information should call Detective Erika Hutchcraft at 949-724-7124.
Contact the writer: 714-796-7956 or epak@ocregister.com