Behind the Badge
An armed man robbed a 7-Eleven early Tuesday in Garden Grove but was arrested a short time later after police spotted a vehicle matching the description provided by the clerk.
Alexander Irwin Valliant, 26, has been booked at Orange County Jail and faces charges of robbery, making criminal threats and possessing a gun, according to a news release issued by the Garden Grove PD.
At 3:55 a.m., officers were called to the 7-Eleven at 11011 Brookhurst St.
The clerk told police that the suspect came into the store wearing a surgical mask, blue latex gloves and brandishing a .40-caliber Glock semi-automatic handgun. He demanded all of the money out of the register; the clerk complied.
Before he fled, the suspect – who was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with white lettering and sweat pants with a gray or white stripe down the side — told the clerk he would kill him if he called the police, according to the news release.
The suspect then drove southbound on Brookhurst Street in a newer gray Dodge pickup truck.
About 10 minutes later, a Garden Grove officer located a truck matching the description in the area of Magnolia and Yorkshire.
While talking to the driver, later identified as Valliant, the officer spotted a black hooded sweatshirt on the back seat. The driver was wearing sweatpants that matched the description provided by the clerk, as well as a maroon shirt.
Valliant soon admitted to the officer that he had a gun in the car, according to the news release. He was detained and the clerk and other witnesses were brought to his location and identified him as the suspect. Valliant then was arrested.
Police found in Valliant’s car a loaded .40-caliber Glock semi-automatic handgun with an extra magazine, blue latex gloves, a surgical mask and cash consistent with the amount stolen from the 7-Eleven.
After being advised of his rights, Valliant admitted committing the robbery, according to the news release.
