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64-Year-Old Sylmar Resident Arrested for Armed Bank Robbery in Santa Maria

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – In a joint operation involving the Santa Maria Police Department (SMPD), the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), a 64-year-old resident of Sylmar was apprehended on Wednesday night for a recent armed robbery at the Community West Bank branch located at 112 E. Betterava Rd, according to authorities.

The incident took place on Monday morning when SMPD received a distress call from the bank around 8:15 a.m. The suspect had forcibly entered the building brandishing a knife and held the employees captive before making off with an undisclosed sum of money.

Upon arrival, SMPD officers found that the perpetrator had already fled the scene. To aid in their investigation, SMPD detectives and Santa Maria FBI Field Office agents studied the surveillance footage, which captured clear images of the suspect and his vehicle.

By meticulously tracking the suspect’s movements after the robbery, law enforcement officials were able to trace his whereabouts to a nearby gas station. Subsequently, detectives identified the vehicle as belonging to a residence in Sylmar, situated within the San Fernando Valley.

Working in tandem with LAPD officers stationed in the Sylmar area, SMPD detectives coordinated an operation that culminated in the apprehension of the 64-year-old suspect on Wednesday. LAPD officers detained the driver of the identified vehicle, confirming his identity as the Sylmar resident involved in the bank robbery.

Following the arrest, SMPD accompanied the suspect back to Santa Maria, where they joined local FBI personnel in executing a search warrant at his residence. The search yielded several items that were linked to the bank robbery, further strengthening the case against the suspect.

Following due process, Santa Maria police officers booked the 64-year-old Sylmar resident into the Santa Barbara County Jail. He faces charges of robbery, kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon, and false imprisonment. Authorities have set his bail at $1 million.

SMPD is urging anyone with information related to this case to reach out to lead investigator Ivan Swenson at 805-928-3781, extension 1648.

Stay tuned to Your News Channel for updates on this developing story. Join us for the latest details at 4, 5, and 6 p.m.

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