A 51-year-old Long Beach man was formally charged in federal court Tuesday afternoon for the armed robbery of the Los Altos F&M Bank last week.
Robert Gordon Lockwood was transferred from local custody into federal custody Tuesday morning and was in the US District Court in Downtown Los Angeles for his initial appearance by 2 p.m., said Thom Mrozek, spokesman for the US Attorney's Office.
"Lockwood was ordered detained," Mrozek said, noting that means Lockwood was not granted the opportunity for putting up bond.
The Signal Hill machine shop owner was ordered to return to the federal courthouse on March 23 for a preliminary hearing, and his arraignment was scheduled for March 29, Mrozek said.
A federal complaint was filed against Lockwood late Friday after he was taken into custody following the botched robbery at the F&M on Bellflower Boulevard at 23rd Street.
During the heist, witnesses said, Lockwood stormed the bank dressed in motorcycle leathers and wearing a ski-mask and motorcycle helmet, which was covered with red tape. In the parking lot was a sport motorcycle also covered with red tape.
Witnesses said the suspect was armed with two guns and several magazines filled with ammunition. He fired at least six shots after a customer tackled him.
The gunman hit that customer, Long Beach resident Richard Camp, and an older woman as well as himself while shooting wildly into the air, over his shoulder and in between his legs.
All three are expected to survive.
Once Camp had the robber on the ground a second customer, David Jones, ran over and helped Camp disarm the gunman and hold him until police arrived.
Community members have been clamoring ever since for the heroic pair to receive a reward, but FBI Spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said Tuesday no reward has been offered by F&M Bank or any other banks that federal authorities suspect Lockwood has hit throughout the last two years.
Lockwood has not yet been charged in connection with the other robberies -- dubbed the work of the "Sport Bike Bandit" for the suspect's use of a sport motorcycle covered in tape and his wearing riding gear.
The robberies began in July 25, 2008, and continued up until Jan. 26, 2010, including at least seven banks in Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Pasadena and Rancho Palos Verdes, according to the FBI.
Robert Gordon Lockwood was transferred from local custody into federal custody Tuesday morning and was in the US District Court in Downtown Los Angeles for his initial appearance by 2 p.m., said Thom Mrozek, spokesman for the US Attorney's Office.
"Lockwood was ordered detained," Mrozek said, noting that means Lockwood was not granted the opportunity for putting up bond.
The Signal Hill machine shop owner was ordered to return to the federal courthouse on March 23 for a preliminary hearing, and his arraignment was scheduled for March 29, Mrozek said.
A federal complaint was filed against Lockwood late Friday after he was taken into custody following the botched robbery at the F&M on Bellflower Boulevard at 23rd Street.
During the heist, witnesses said, Lockwood stormed the bank dressed in motorcycle leathers and wearing a ski-mask and motorcycle helmet, which was covered with red tape. In the parking lot was a sport motorcycle also covered with red tape.
Witnesses said the suspect was armed with two guns and several magazines filled with ammunition. He fired at least six shots after a customer tackled him.
The gunman hit that customer, Long Beach resident Richard Camp, and an older woman as well as himself while shooting wildly into the air, over his shoulder and in between his legs.
All three are expected to survive.
Once Camp had the robber on the ground a second customer, David Jones, ran over and helped Camp disarm the gunman and hold him until police arrived.
Community members have been clamoring ever since for the heroic pair to receive a reward, but FBI Spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said Tuesday no reward has been offered by F&M Bank or any other banks that federal authorities suspect Lockwood has hit throughout the last two years.
Lockwood has not yet been charged in connection with the other robberies -- dubbed the work of the "Sport Bike Bandit" for the suspect's use of a sport motorcycle covered in tape and his wearing riding gear.
The robberies began in July 25, 2008, and continued up until Jan. 26, 2010, including at least seven banks in Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Pasadena and Rancho Palos Verdes, according to the FBI.
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