Ice cream truck driver robbed by armed juvenile

Deputies say a boy robbed an ice cream truck driver at gunpoint Tuesday afternoon in an unincorporated area of Desert Hot Springs.

The robbery happened at the intersection of Sagebrush Trail and Roundup Drive just before 5:00 p.m.

Deputy Mike Vasquez, of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, said a male juvenile of an unknown age pointed a handgun at the ice cream truck driver and demanded money.

The driver told KESQ / CBS Local 2 that he recognized the boy as a previous customer. He called 9-1-1 shortly after the robbery occurred.

The driver said the juvenile then tossed the handgun and ran into a nearby house.

Deputies arrived at the residence and attempted to peacefully get him to come out. After 15 minutes, the juvenile was detained without incident.

According to KESQ / CBS Local 2 crew at the scene, a K-9 unit found the weapon the juvenile had used, which turned out to be a BB gun.

The driver said the juvenile stole cash he’d collected throughout the day. The ice cream truck driver and his son have sold ice cream in the Coachella Valley for 14 years.