The Region - News from May 7, 1985

Torrance Police Officers Keith Mason and Ronald Pobuda took a photo of a murder suspect with them when they reported to part-time jobs as security guards at the Del Amo Fashion Square shopping mall. Police in Chula Vista had distributed the photo of Timothy Dean Johnson, 18, of Redondo Beach, who was believed to be in the Torrance area. As the officers were walking through an arcade in the mall just before 4 p.m. Sunday, they saw Johnson walk in, Torrance police said. Mason and Pobuda arrested Johnson after he was unable to identify himself. Johnson later told investigators who he was, police said, and he was returned to Chula Vista. Johnson is wanted in the fatal shooting May 2 of Thomas Mercier, 24, during an attempted robbery, police said.