From the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

Anderson

On Sunday evening at about 9:30, the Shell gas station at 1606 Central Avenue in McKinleyville was robbed of approximately $200 in cash and five cans of tobacco “chew.”

The clerk on duty told deputies that he was vacuuming the store when a white male adult, later identified as 24 year old Jonathan Anderson (11/18/1992), entered the store wearing a grey hoody with a red bandana covering his face.

The suspect was carrying a kitchen knife and demanded the clerk go behind the counter and open the register. While the clerk was complying with this demand, the suspect went to a cabinet and took a package of tobacco “chew.”

After viewing the surveillance video, the suspect was identified as a former employee of the gas station who was fired a week ago for stealing lottery tickets. As a result of this information, the deputies went to Anderson’s residence to interview him.

During the interview, Anderson confessed to the robbery. The stolen tobacco and cash were found in Anderson’s bedroom. Anderson told the deputies before arriving home after the robbery [that] he stashed the hooded sweatshirt, handkerchief, and the knife near a McKinleyville business.

The deputies responded to the location described and found the items Anderson discarded. Anderson said he robbed the store to pay off a debt. He was arrested for armed robbery and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility.