An armed man robbed a Riverside electronics store today and fled just as police officers arrived, leading to a foot pursuit that wound through an apartment complex where the bandit allegedly threatened to kill a resident before surrendering.
The hold-up occurred shortly before 3 p.m. at a Radio Shack in the Arlington Square Shopping Center at Arlington Avenue and Madison Street, according to Riverside police.
A man armed with a pistol rushed into the store and demanded money and merchandise, which he stuffed into a backpack, according to reports from the scene.
A witness called police during the robbery, and officers arrived within a minute, pulling up as the bandit was fleeing the store.
Patrol officers chased the suspect through an apartment complex on nearby Ambergate Place, where he tried to hide on a balcony and allegedly threatened to shoot the surprised resident when she screamed, police said.
The alleged gunman was captured as he attempted to run out of the complex, surrendering without any shots being fired.
An elementary school on the same block was briefly locked down during the pursuit.
An ambulance was summoned to the area, but it was unclear whether it was for the frightened witness or a victim of the robbery who may have been injured.
No one was shot, however.
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