Suspect in recent robberies arrested

Department of Public Safety and LAPD officials arrested a suspect in connection with three recent armed robberies Wednesday near the 1200 block of 29th Street, DPS said.

The suspect, Anthony Paul Hood, was spotted by the DPS Special Problems Unit, which was patrolling the area because there was suspicion a drug deal was taking place. Because Hood matched the suspect description provided by the victims of the three robberies, the officers of the Special Problems Unit and LAPD officers assigned to the USC area detained him, and a subsequent investigation led to his arrest at approximately 7:30 p.m.

“Our Special Problems Unit was patrolling in the North University Park Area and they observed a suspect matching the description of a suspect in three robberies get in a vehicle near a house where we suspect drug dealing was going on,” DPS Capt. David Carlisle said. “DPS officers detained that suspect along with the LAPD unit that is assigned to USC.”

During the follow-up investigation, the laptop of a student who was robbed June 7 near the 1200 block of 27th Street was recovered. Later, the student positively identified Hood as the man who robbed him, Carlisle said. Officers also recovered a BB gun.

In addition to the June 7 robbery, Carlisle said officials also believe Hood was responsible for robberies on June 2 and 3. The June 2 robbery took place at the 2700 block of Ellendale, while the June 3 robbery occurred at 1120 W. 27th St. In all three instances a weapon was displayed.

According to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Inmate Locator, Hood was booked at the LAPD Southwest Station early Thursday morning, and is being held on $100,000 bail.