5 Northern California residents arrested after armed robbery and chase in Beverly Hills

Five Northern California residents were arrested Thursday following an armed robbery and chase in Beverly Hills.

According to Beverly Hills police, the robbery occurred around 4:50 p.m. in the 8600 block of Wilshire Boulevard near La Cienega Boulevard.

According to investigators, the five suspects, three men and two teenagers, approached a victim, held him at gunpoint and demanded that he hand over his Rolex watch.

According to reports, a city employee witnessed the robbery and called the police, who arrived immediately. They were able to identify the suspects’ car.

Although the driver stopped when police attempted to stop him, he instead fled, sparking a chase.

With the assistance of a Los Angeles Police Department helicopter crew, ground units followed the car to Hollywood, where all five suspects jumped from the car and fled on foot near Afton Place and North El Centro Avenue.

“Officers from the BHPD and the Hollywood Division of the LAPD quickly initiated a containment operation,” the Beverly Hills Police Department said in a statement. “Following the search, all five suspects were arrested and evidence related to the crime was recovered from the vehicle.”

The suspects have since been identified as Oakland residents Xavier Ford (18), Gangster Lawson (23) and Nasir Blocker (18). Two teenagers aged 16 and 17 could not be identified due to their age.

Ford and Lawson were charged with assault with a firearm and conspiracy, while Blocked was charged with robbery.