Masked Suspect Wielding Baseball Bat Arrested In San Gabriel Valley Robberies

DUARTE (CBSLA.com) — A 19-year-old Duarte resident has been arrested for allegedly robbing several San Gabriel Valley convenience stores using a baseball bat and ski mask.

Malcolm Buchanan was arrested Thursday after deputies spotted his vehicle that was reportedly used in at least one robbery earlier that day, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said.

According to officials, two gas station employees called 911 and reported a robbery in the 3800 block of Colorado Boulevard in unincorporated Pasadena.

The employees told detectives that they saw the suspect park his vehicle, walk to the front door with a baseball bat in hand, and put on a ski mask.

"Buchanan then entered the establishment, presented the bat in a threatening manner and demanded money from the cashier," Lt. Ignacio Somoano said.

The suspect then fled the scene in his vehicle with an unknown amount of money.

The victims were able to provide the vehicle's license plate number to deputies who pulled it over minutes later during a traffic stop in the 2600 block of Bashor Street in Duarte.

Buchanan was arrested after the gas station employees were able to positively identify him.

"A baseball bat and a ski mask was recovered from the scene at the time of arrest," Lt. Somoano said.

Detectives are also looking into whether Buchanan may have been involved in at least four similar robberies that occurred in the San Gabriel Valley Thursday.

A mug shot was not released.