Repeatedly-attempting robber in Redding can’t seem to catch a break

Repeatedly-attempting robber in Redding can’t seem to catch a break

REDDING — On the 4th of April just before 7 a.m., an employee of the Lulu’s Restaurant at 2230 Pine Street called to report an attempted robbery that had occured moments ago. Within minutes, a cashier at the Starbucks in the nearby Safeway at 2275 Pine Street called in the same thing.

Officer Brian Cowan, having been travelling west down Cypress Avenue in response, pulled into the Safeway gas station parking lot just in time to see an unidentified male subject exiting the station convenience store and throw a handful of money the moment he noticed Cowan’s presence. The man was quickly pointed out by the store employee who’d exited after him and detained for questioning.

He was shortly identified as Bradley Clyde King, a 46-year-old transient living in the Redding area. Several witnesses came forward to confirm he’d been the man going from store to store.

Safeway at 2275 Pine Street -- Redding

Safeway at 2275 Pine Street — Redding

We find him first at Lulu’s, where he attempted to reach into the cash register tray while the cashier was helping another customer. Soon as she saw what he was up to, she grabbed his arm, causing a brief struggle that left King fleeing the restaurant without so much as a penny.

Then he went to Starbucks, where he demanded cash while pretending to have a gun under his sweatshirt. King was told the cash drawer couldn’t be opened, so he left.

On to the Safeway gas station, where he again tried the weapon-under-the-shirt ploy. Again he was told the cash drawer couldn’t be opened, but by this point it was no more Mr. Nice Guy. King walked around the back of the counter and shoved the register off. It landed on the floor with enough force to break it open, allowing King to snatch up handfuls of bills and leave the store, right into the path of Officer Cowan. All the money was promptly returned to the station.

Salvation Army

Salvation Army at 1557 Pine Street — Redding

King was arrested for one count of robbery and two counts of attempted robbery. An admitted user of methamphetamine, he was discovered to have had a hypodermic syringe in his possession during his arrest. Once taken to Redding Police Investigations, he admitted to the aforementioned crimes as well as smashing a window at the Salvation Army (1557 Pine Street) earlier that morning to steal clothing. The clothing was found across the street and returned by responding officers. For this, King was also charged with burglary.

He has since been booked at the Shasta County Jail for the above charges, and an outstanding misdemeanor warrant on top of that.

Read more:

The Record Searchlight: UPDATED: Police arrest man after reported attempted robberies

Redding PD press release (Nixle)

Repeatedly-attempting robber in Redding can’t seem to catch a break was last modified: January 14th, 2019 by admin
Categories: Shasta

About Author

Eric Anderson

Eric Anderson is a California based writer/reporter covering both national and local crime and arrest news, with a primary focus on the Northern California area.