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National

Police lieutenant to plead to

illegal sale of 100-plus guns

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A former Southern California police lieutenant who also acted as a department spokesman has agreed to plead guilty in connection with the illegal sale of more than 100 guns, prosecutors said Friday.

Former Pasadena Police Lt. Vasken Gourdikian of Sierra Madre signed an agreement with prosecutors to plead guilty on Sept. 20 to dealing in firearms without a license and lying during a gun purchase.

Prosecutors say Gourdikian used his job to get around California’s strict gun laws to resell at least 108 guns between 2014 and 2017.

As an officer, they say Gourdikian was able to buy so-called “off-roster” handguns, which aren’t available to the public and aren’t listed in a catalog of certified handguns maintained by the state.

Police: Iowa store clerk ID’d

ex-boyfriend as armed robber

LeCLAIRE, Iowa (AP) — Police in eastern Iowa say they have arrested a suspect in the armed robbery of a convenience store — the ex-boyfriend of the clerk who was held at knifepoint.

LeClaire police say officers were called Thursday night to a QC Mart for a robbery in progress. Arriving officers say the suspect had fled, but that the cashier identified him as her ex-boyfriend.

Police say the suspect displayed a knife and tried to force the cashier to open the register. He assaulted her and stole merchandise when she refused and hit a panic alarm.

Scott County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 31-year-old Jae Eads on Friday morning in Davenport. Police say some of the merchandise also was recovered.

Eads is charged with felony robbery, domestic assault and drug possession.

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