Suspect In Violent LA Robbery Arrested After Foot Chase And Air Search

LOS ANGELES, CA — A man suspected of brutally beating a store employee during a robbery in Los Angeles was arrested while trying to hide from police in a Hawthorne backyard, police announced Wednesday.

Now detectives are asking people to come forward with any information about other crimes he may be linked to.

Police suspect Courtland Thornton, 31, robbed a Chinatown boutique Sept. 14 in the 800 block of North Broadway. Surveillance footage from the business shows a robber repeatedly assaulting and shoving a store employee to the ground as she tries to stop him, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

"As the employee attempted to stop him, the suspect assaulted the employee. The employee was hospitalized for her injuries inflicted by the suspect," an LAPD spokesperson said in a written statement. "The suspect exited the location with the property and fled."

Police on Wednesday held a news conference at the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of Los Angeles, calling for help linking Thornton to other robberies.

The Gang and Narcotics Division, U.S Marshals Apprehension TASK Force took Thornton into custody Friday after locating him in Hawthorne and chasing him down as he attempted to flee and hide in a backyard, according to police.

Anyone with additional information is urged to call Det. Huy Nguyen of Central Area Robbery at 213-996-1875 or make an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.