A Landers man who is suspected of an armed robbery at a Twentynine Palms grocery store, and threatened to shoot the customers inside the store, was arrested Tuesday. According to a Sheriff’s report, deputies responded to a robbery button activation about 10:30 a.m., followed by a 911 call about an armed robbery at the Stater Brothers store. The caller said the suspect, later identified as Bruce Drake, 68, told customers and employees at the Stater Brothers store that he had a gun and was going to kill everyone. Drake left the store and was found by deputies near the bus stop on the highway. Deputies found ammunition on Drake, who as a felon convicted of assault and is awaiting trial for theft, is prohibited from possessing guns or ammunition. A search warrant was served at Drake’s travel trailer in the 300 block of Old Woman Springs Road in Landers and deputies found a .380-caliber handgun. Bruce Drake was arrested for investigation of making criminal threats, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and was booked into the West Valley Detention Center, with his bail set at $50,000.
