Armed Man Robs Couple Walking Along Palo Alto Trail

Police have released a sketch of a man who was armed when he robbed a couple walking along a trail in Palo Alto on Tuesday night.Around 10 p.m. Tuesday, police dispatch received a report from East Palo Alto police of an armed robbery that happened an hour earlier along the San Francisquito Creek Trail in Palo Alto.

Officers responded to the trail but were unable to find the suspect, police said.

An investigation showed that a couple in their 40s was walking west along the trail near Friendship Bridge, which links East Palo Alto and Palo Alto, around 8:45 p.m. Tuesday, police said.

A man on a bicycle snuck up to the couple from behind, took out a semi-automatic handgun and ordered them to hand over their valuables, according to police.

The suspect got away with a wallet and cellphone from the couple and fled west on the trail, police said.

The couple went home and reported the robbery to East Palo Alto police, who determined the incident happened in Palo Alto.

The suspect is described as a black man in his early 30s, standing about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing around 150 pounds, police said.

He wore a red baseball cap, dark-colored sweatshirt and dark-colored denim pants, according to police.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Palo Alto police at (650) 329-2413. Anonymous tips can be sent by email to paloalto@tipnow.org or by text message or voice mail to (650) 383-8984.

--Bay City News, photo courtesy of the Palo Alto Police Department