POLICE ARREST 2 IN HOLDUPS; AUTHORITIES SEEKING LANCASTER SUSPECT.Byline: Karen Karen Any member of a variety of tribal peoples of southern Myanmar (Burma). Constituting the second largest minority in Myanmar, the Karen are not a unitary group in any ethnic sense, as they differ among themselves linguistically, religiously, and economically. Maeshiro Daily News Staff Writer Authorities have arrested two men and are seeking a third in a string of armed robberies - the latest a takeover heist at the Edwards Federal Credit Union - that have netted more than $100,000. The third man being sought - 43-year-old, previously convicted robber James Pridgen of Lancaster - is suspected of committing more than 20 robberies over the past year to fuel his drug habit, deputies said. ``These are loaded-gun robberies. He's high on drugs. He has a lot more money, and he's going to get higher,'' Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department This article is about the Los Angeles County Sherriff's Department, not to be confused with the smaller Los Angeles County Police The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) is a local law enforcement agency that serves Los Angeles County, California. Detective John Kalita said. ``When they get high on drugs, you never know what's going to happen.'' The robberies, which began in January 1997 and increased in number in the fall, included the July 5 and 24 robberies of a Palmdale Salvation Army Salvation Army, Protestant denomination and international nonsectarian Christian organization for evangelical and philanthropic work. Organization and Beliefs The Salvation Army has established branches in 100 countries throughout the world. store, the Sept. 16 robbery of the Salvation Army store in Lancaster, the Oct. 2 robbery of Harry's Designs jewelry jewelry, personal adornments worn for ornament or utility, to show rank or wealth, or to follow superstitious custom or fashion. The most universal forms of jewelry are the necklace, bracelet, ring, pin, and earring. store in Palmdale, the Nov. 19 robbery of the McDonald's restaurant at 30th Street West and Avenue L, the Dec. 11 home invasion home invasion n. Burglary of a dwelling while the residents are at home. Noun 1. home invasion - burglary of a dwelling while the residents are at home and carjacking The criminal taking of a motor vehicle from its driver by force, violence, or intimidation. The u.s. justice department categorizes the crime of carjacking as a "completed or attempted Robbery of a motor vehicle by a stranger at a Lancaster residence, the Dec. 13 robbery of the McDonald's in Acton, and the Dec. 16 robbery of the credit union in Lancaster. The two men arrested were David Wilkerson, 20, and Darrel McClain, 19, both of Lancaster. The two men are suspected in the credit union case, investigators said. In addition, deputies say Wilkerson was involved in the Acton McDonald's case, one heist at the Palmdale Salvation Army and the home-invasion robberies. McClain is also suspected of being involved in the home invasion incident. FBI officials said they identified the three suspects through informants who came forward after the credit union offered a $4,000 reward. Kalita said he was led to Pridgen following the robbery at the 30th Street West and Avenue L McDonald's, where a lone gunman accosted ac·cost tr.v. ac·cost·ed, ac·cost·ing, ac·costs 1. To approach and speak to boldly or aggressively, as with a demand or request. 2. To solicit for sex. an employee outside the restaurant, escorted him inside and ordered all the workers into a freezer freezer the compartment in which meat and offal are stored at freezing temperatures of 10 to 16°F (-12 to -9°C) although there is a trend to lower temperatures of 0 to -22°F (-18 to -30°C). before leaving with the money. A woman jogger told deputies she saw a man running away from the restaurant carrying a ski mask and a bag, watched him go behind a building and then saw an Audi with no license plates drive out a short time later. Based on the description of the car given by the woman, a sheriff's patrol unit stopped an Audi a couple of days later driven by Pridgen, investigators said. The car was impounded, and Pridgen was cited but not arrested at the time. CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO (Color) PRIDGEN |
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