Two held in robbery at senior center

Two suspects in an armed robbery of two elderly people at the new Laguna Beach Community and Senior Center on Wed. have been taken into custody by Laguna Beach Police, Police Chief Paul Workman announced Friday.

The robbery took place at 4:40 p.m. in the underground parking lot at the center, 380 Third St. The two Laguna Beach residents, ages 62 and 73, were allegedly robbed at gunpoint by two males, one of whom held a hand gun and demanded money while the other acted as a lookout, police said. The victims, who were not hurt, handed over all their cash, less than $100 total.

The suspects fled on foot and an extensive search failed to locate them.

The next day, detectives received information from an informant regarding the possible identities of the two suspects. The suspects were located Thursday at two different homes in Laguna Beach and taken into custody.

Bill Wills, 20, a Laguna Beach resident, was arrested at his home in the 28800 block of Top of the World Drive. He was booked on suspicion of robbery, conspiracy, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor and is being held at Orange County Jail on $100,000 bail.

The second suspect, a 16-year-old male also of Laguna Beach, was arrested at a friend’s home in the 1500 block of Caribbean Way and booked on suspicion of robbery and conspiracy. He was released to his parents. His name is being withheld by police because he is a minor.

Neither the gun used in the robbery nor the money stolen from the victims has been recovered. Investigators are following up on the possibility that the weapon was either a pellet gun or an air soft gun.