Popeye's Chicken Robbed at Gunpoint, Teen Arrested

A 16-year-old Livermore boy was arrested Saturday on armed robbery charges, police said, after robbing a  restaurant at gunpoint and taking off with an unspecified amount of cash, Sgt. Kevin Santin said.

Police said the teenager also robbed  at gunpoint a week before. Both restaurants are in the same shopping complex at the corner of Las Positas Road and North Livermore Avenue.

The teen later confessed to both crimes, Santin said.

During both robberies, he covered the bottom half of his face with a bandanna.

"He was just like a desperado from the wild, wild west," Santin said.

Officers responded to a 911 call at 6:20 p.m. Saturday reporting an armed robbery at Popeye's Chicken.

Police reports show the boy confronted a female employee with a handgun near a Dumpster at the back of the restaurant.

He held the employee at gunpoint, took her into the restaurant and demanded clerks fill his backpack with cash from the register, Santin said.

It is not known if there were any customers in the restaurant during the robbery.

The teen then ran out through the back of the restaurant, police say.

A patrol officer spotted a boy who matched a description of the suspect on a bicycle on Portola Avenue at Paseo Laguna Seco.

"The boy tried to ditch the backpack and flee from officers," Santin said.

He later was detained and officers found a replica handgun, purple bandanna and a large amount of cash in the backpack, Santin said.

Police say a search of the boy's house uncovered evidence linking him to the armed robbery of the Denny's Cafe on Feb. 26.

Employees from both restaurants identified the suspect as the robber, Santin said.

In addition to the armed robbery charges, the teen was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping for holding the Popeye's Chicken employee at gunpoint and forcing her into the restaurant.

The teen, who has a criminal record, is being held at Alameda County Juvenile Hall in San Leandro, Santin said.

No injuries were reported during the robbery.