Man Held in 2 Huntington Beach Holdups

HUNTINGTON BEACH — A Long Beach man was arrested Thursday after he allegedly robbed a service station and a restaurant across the street by showing his victims a toy gun that was tucked in his waistband, police said.

James M. Jean, 28, was arrested in connection with the robberies at a Mobile gasoline station at 15001 Golden West St. and Don Jose Mexican Restaurant at 15101 Golden West St., police Sgt. Tony Sollecito said.

The suspect entered the gas station about 3:30 p.m., demanded money from a cashier and fled with $200, Sollecito said.

Minutes later, the suspect entered the restaurant and flashed the gun at the cashier, then fled with about $300, Sollecito said.

The suspect then jumped over a wall in the back of the restaurant into a residential back yard, where he apparently hid his gun and his white shirt, Sollecito said.

The suspect was spotted by officers in a police helicopter as he was walking on Oxford Drive, where he was arrested, Sollecito said.

A plastic toy Uzi gun and a white shirt were recovered in the back yard of the house behind the restaurant, Sollecito said. The money was also recovered.