Police seek man suspected of daytime deli robbery

A male suspect is still at large after an armed robbery Saturday afternoon in Costa Mesa.

Around 12:30 p.m., police received a silent robbery alarm from the Quick Corner Deli at 612 West Baker St., Suite B. According to a witness, the suspect is a black male in his 20s, around 5-foot-10, with a thin build. The witness said the suspect entered the store with handgun and robbed the clerk, taking about $400 and a bottle of vodka before fleeing in a silver vehicle.

The suspect’s vehicle was last seen entering the 55 South Freeway. Moments later, Sgt. Victor Bakkila said an off-duty lieutenant observed a similar vehicle near the intersection Vanguard Way and Newport Blvd. The lieutenant proceeded to chase the vehicle in his car until it crashed into the curb at the corner of Victoria Street and College Avenue. The suspect fled, and police, despite setting up a perimeter, were unable to locate him by the evening.

A female passenger, who Bakkila described as a 28-year-old Costa Mesa resident, was arrested at the scene with conspiracy to commit armed robbery and possession of methamphetamine and detained at the Orange County Jail.

Bakkila said an armed robbery during the day in Costa Mesa was a very unusual occurrence.

“It’s extremely rare. I couldn’t tell you when the last one happened,” he said.

There were no reported injuries, and no gunshots were fired.

— Michael Miller