Arrest made in Christmas robbery at Circle K in Atwater

Atwater police arrested a suspect Monday in the Dec. 25 robbery of a Circle K convenience store.

Andrew Breckenridge, 21, was taken into custody at his Fir Avenue residence after an investigation by detectives, according to Lt. Sam Joseph.

When police arrived at the home, the suspect's 20-year-old girlfriend alerted him, and he then ran. After a foot chase, police caught up with Breckenridge and took him into custody.

Joseph said Breckenridge's girlfriend wasn't booked, although she could face charges for trying to help the suspect escape from law enforcement.

The robbery was reported at 12:48 a.m. at the 1021 Shaffer Road store. The clerk told police he'd been stocking items when he heard someone enter the store. The clerk said he thought it was a customer and turned around, but then heard the sound of the robber racking a gun.

The robber, who was wearing a black bandanna over his face, pointed a black semi-automatic gun at the clerk, demanding money, police said.

The clerk complied with the robber's demands, opening the cash register. The robber pointed his gun at the clerk the entire time, according to police.

The clerk handed a small amount of cash to the robber, who demanded a pack of cigarettes and fled the scene on foot. The clerk immediately locked the store and called police.

Breckenridge was booked into the Merced County Jail on suspicion of robbery, resisting arrest and possession of stolen property. He's being held in lieu of $101,000 bail.

City Editor Victor A. Patton can be reached at (209) 385-2431 or vpatton@mercedsunstar.com.