WALNUT — Detectives arrested a remorseful robbery suspect Wednesday on suspicion of carrying out a heist the day before at a Walnut bank branch, authorities said.

Jaimes Lawler, 27, is described as a transient with ties to the Walnut area, Sgt. Michael Maher of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Major Crime’s Bureau said. He was booked on suspicion of armed bank robbery.
Lawler, who did not initially appear to have any significant criminal record, said he committed the crime out of financial desperation.
“He sounds somewhat sorry for his actions, more than most,” Maher said.
He was arrested about 9:30 a.m. as he was leaving an apartment building in Los Angeles, the sergeant said.
The robbery took place about 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Bank of America, 200 S. Lemon Ave., sheriff’s officials said.
Lawler entered the bank, handed a teller a note demanding money and brandished a handgun, Maher said. He fled with about $1,700.
A set of hair clippers Lawler used to shave his head and beard following the robbery were also found during his arrest, Lt. Kent Wegener said.
Both sheriff’s and FBI investigators soon identified the suspect as Lawler, partly due to surveillance images obtained from the bank, officials said. He was tracked to an apartment building in the 400 block of South Bixel Avenue in Los Angeles where he was arrested without a struggle.

Officials recovered nearly $1,600 of the loot, as well as a red bag and the hand-written note used in the robbery, Maher said. The gun used in the crime was not found.
“Subsequently, during an interview, (Lawler) confessed to the bank robbery,” Maher said.
According to county booking records, Lawler was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail and was due for arraignment Friday in Pomona Superior Court.