Full Notification

At 9:27 this morning, patrol units from the Cerritos Sheriff’s Station responded to an armed robbery call at a local bank, located in the 11300 block of South Street, Cerritos.

When deputies arrived they learned a lone male adult had entered the bank, demanding money and claimed he had an explosive device on him inside a plastic bag.  The suspect, described as a male Black in his 40’s, obtained a moderate amount of cash and left the potential explosive device inside the bank near a row of teller windows.  Deputies evacuated the bank, secured the area and called for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Arson/Explosives Detail.

Arson/Explosives Detail personnel entered the bank, removed the device from inside and determined it was inert and merely fashioned to resemble an explosive device.  The area was made safe and Investigators from the Major Crimes Bureau and the Federal Bureau of Investigation assumed the bank robbery investigation.

Deputies discovered a man matching the description of the suspect was seen acting suspiciously and attempting to conceal himself on the premises of a nearby automotive repair business in Cerritos.Investigators conducted a follow-up inquiry into this potential lead and reported the information to area field patrol units.Approximately two hours after the first reports of the bank robbery, a patrol unit located and detained a man matching the description of the suspect in the area of 195^th Street and Pioneer Boulevard, Cerritos.

Investigators were able to secure multiple witness identifications of the suspect.The suspect was also found to possess currency that numerically matched the currency stolen during the bank robbery. The suspect was arrested and booked at Cerritos Station for Armed Bank Robbery, Criminal Threats and a Bomb Threat.He is being held in lieu of $100,000.

The Major Crimes Bureau is continuing with this investigation and the suspect is not being identified at this time, nor is his photo being released, as Investigators look into the potential for additional similar robberies committed by the suspect.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Major Crimes Bureau at (562) 946-7008. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.

Written By:

Martin Rodriguez, Lieutenant

Major Crimes Bureau

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

11515 Colima Road

Whittier, CA 90604

Forwarded By:

Sara Rodriguez, Deputy

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