Update: Armed robbery reported at Centennial Park, schools locked down, teen arrested
Updated report: On Wednesday, May 13, at approximately 2:20 p.m., officers from the Paso Robles Police Department responded to the walking path in Centennial Park for a report of an attempted armed robbery. The suspect was described as an Hispanic male, 16 to 18 years of age, wearing all brown with blue shoes, according to police. The suspect allegedly demanded money from three juveniles, physically assaulted one of them and indicated he had a gun in his waistband.
Officers from the Paso Robles Police Department were assisted by the California Highway Patrol and Cuesta College police in a manhunt for the suspect. Road blocks were set up around the park.
A CHP helicopter located the suspect on a walking path between Nickerson Drive and Mohawk Court. At about 3:15 p.m. officers were able to detain the suspect without any injuries. A gun was not located and it is believed the suspect lied to the victim juveniles about having a gun, police say.
The arrested suspect is a juvenile from Atascadero with known gang ties, police say. His identity is not being released due to his juvenile status. None of the juvenile victims were seriously injured.
At the request of law enforcement, Pifer Elementary, Lewis Middle School and Paso Robles High School were all briefly placed on an after-school lockdown as a precautionary measure. All schools had completed their educational day and had previously released all students when the lockdown occurred, according to Ashley Lightfoot, spokesman for the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District. However, after-school and athletic program participants were safely gathered inside locked spaces, he said. School bus routes were also re-routed around the area, according to Lieutenant Tim Murphy.
Anyone witnesses with information about this incident are asked to call the Paso Robles Police Department at (805) 237-6464.