Man held in number of local robberies

Police have arrested a Santa Ana man suspected of robbing two Costa Mesa stores at gunpoint.

Authorities believe Dennis Adamson, 24, may have also robbed an Independence Bank in Fountain Valley in August and a Subway sandwich shop and Mobil gas station in Santa Ana in September, as well as 10 locations in central California beginning in March.

Santa Ana police stopped Adamson about 11 p.m. Sunday as he was riding a bike in the 100 block of East Dyer Road. Officers said they found a handgun and two black ski masks in his backpack.

On Oct. 1, Adamson was arrested in Irvine and later released on suspicion of misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, said Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna. Officers put together a photo lineup using Adamson’s booking photo, and one of his alleged victims identified Adamson as the robber of a Mobil gas station at 100 W. MacArthur Blvd. on Sept. 22, police said.

Costa Mesa detectives coordinated with Santa Ana police to establish Adamson as the suspect wanted in the two armed robberies in Costa Mesa, police said.

A man matching Adamson’s description robbed a clerk at the 76 gas station at 3067 Bristol St. on Sept. 29. The man allegedly pointed a handgun at the clerk and fled on foot with the money.

Four days later, a man bearing the same description robbed a clerk at the 7-Eleven store at 3001 Bristol St. The suspect again pointed a handgun at the clerk, demanded cash and fled on foot.

No injuries were reported in the two robberies, police said.

Police will ask the Orange County district attorney’s office to file charges against Adamson for armed robbery, according to a news release.

Police are investigating his possible involvement in similar crimes committed in Costa Mesa, according to a news release from Costa Mesa police.

Anyone with information regarding robberies in Costa Mesa is asked to call Det. Rob Hanson at (714) 754-5162 or Sgt. Ed Everett at (714) 754-5395.