Photo: Edison Small
BERKELEY — A man suspected of committing two armed robberies last month remains in custody in lieu of $455,000 bail. He is accused of robbing two businesses within walking distance of each other.
Investigators were able to connect both crimes to the same suspect, because of how he dressed. Both times the suspect sported a bright red shirt with the logo of the Washington Nationals baseball team.
Surveillance videos show the suspect sitting at bus stops near the businesses that were robbed. He waited for customers to leave before entering; masking his face and wearing stylish black and gray gloves.
The first armed robbery occurred August 9th at Berkeley Green Smog Check, located at 3000 Shattuck Avenue. A man pulled a gun on an employee and looted the cash register before fleeing.
A second robbery occurred in nearby Oakland on August 18th. The Arco gas station located at 6407 Telegraph Avenue was hit. However, this time the attendant on duty shot the suspect before he fled from the scene.
On August 21, officers from Oakland PD and Berkeley PD searched the Oakland residence of 39-year-old Edison Small. However, Small was located at a nearby hospital, before being arrested for both crimes. His charges are second degree robbery and use of a firearm.
Meanwhile, Small is being housed at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin. Small is due to appear in court for a pretrial hearing on September 12. Incidentally, he has prior arrests and criminal convictions dating to 2012.
