By City News Service
LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A 22-year-old Paramount-area homeless man suspected of committing armed robberies at a dozen insurance companies within 18 days this month in Los Angeles and five nearby cities was behind bars today, authorities said.
Jordan Dejon Grimes was arrested in Long Beach at around 3 p.m. on Friday by Los Angeles County sheriff's detectives with assistance from Long Beach police, according to Deputy Kim Manatt of the Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau.
He is suspected of robbing insurance companies in Los Angeles, Bellflower, Lynwood, Downey, Inglewood and Huntington Park, she said.
"At the time of his arrest, he was in possession of a loaded handgun believed to be the same weapon used in the robberies and kidnappings,'' Manatt said.
Grimes is suspected in 12 robberies, which began on July 8,'' she said. All of the robberies involved Grimes allegedly "taking over the store- front insurance company businesses by storming in the door, pointing his weapon at employees and clients and demanding their cash,'' Manatt said.
Grimes implicated himself in all 12 crimes, said Lt. Kent Wegener of the sheriff's Major Crimes Bureau.
He was booked on suspicion of robbery and kidnapping and also had outstanding arrest warrants for burglary and unlawful driving of a vehicle without the owner's consent, according to Manatt.
He was booked at the sheriff's Century Station, where he was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail, she said, adding that the case remains under active investigation.
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