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Police nab suspects in midday Willow Road gas station robbery

Menlo Park police recovered cash and cigarettes, and made two arrests on Jan. 1 in connection with a midday armed robbery at the Willow Cove gas station at 500 Willow Road in Menlo Park.

Police arrested Elias Gonzalez Morales, 18, and a male juvenile on armed robbery charges after finding them hiding on the ground of the German American School at 275 Elliott Drive, said Sgt. Matthew Ortega of the Menlo Park Police Department in a statement.

At the time of their arrest, the two suspects were in possession of an undisclosed amount of cash, and a backpack that contained multiple packs of cigarettes and a black pellet gun that resembled an automatic pistol, Sgt. Ortega said.

The incident began shortly before 12:25 p.m. on New Year's Day, when the suspects entered the station. One of them pointed a black handgun at the clerk and ordered her to give him money, which she did, according to police. The other suspect went around the counter and stole the cigarettes, then they both ran off in the direction of Willow Oaks Park, police said.

Responding to a 911 call, police quickly arrived and searched the neighborhood for two suspects wearing black hooded sweatshirts and black baseball caps, Sgt. Ortega said.

Police are asking anyone with information on this case to call Sgt. Ortega at 330-6300.