An armed robber who held up a motorist on the shoulder of Interstate 80 Tuesday escaped arrest despite a search by Truckee Police, Nevada County Sheriff’s deputies and the California Highway Patrol, police said Thursday.

On Tuesday afternoon, a 27-year-old resident of Gustine, Calif., pulled over to check the lug nuts on his trailer near the Boca exit of I-80.

Shortly afterward, authorities said, a red Mazda RX-7 pulled in behind him and the driver offered his assistance.

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But assistance is not what he gave the man.

According to Truckee Police Lt. Randy Fenn, the man posing as a good Samaritan instead pointed a handgun in the face of the Gustine man and ordered him to empty his pockets.

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The suspect stole his wallet, returned to his red Mazda and took off westbound down I-80.

The victim drove to the weigh station near where the incident occurred and reported the event to the California Highway Patrol.

“An extensive area check was conducted by the Truckee police, Nevada County Sheriff, and the California Highway Patrol,” Lt. Fenn said. “A Be-On-The-Look-Out broadcast was issued to Northern California and Northern Nevada law enforcement agencies.”

Police described the suspect as a black man in his mid-30s, 6 feet, 250 pounds with cornrows and a gold upper front tooth.

Anyone with information concerning the crime is asked to call the Truckee Police Department at 550-2320.