Whittier: May 2008 Archives

This from reporter Ruby Gonzales in Whittier:

Two men suspected of robbing a Hacienda Heights bank were arrested Thursday after a sheriff's helicopter pilot spotted the getaway car and followed them, according to officials.
The robbery occurred at 12:56 p.m.

A man entered the US Bank at 2040 Hacienda Blvd. and handed a teller a note demanding money, said sheriff's Lt. John McBride.
The robber left with the loot and was seen getting into a green Honda Accord.

Witnesses gave a description of the robber, the car used and a partial license plate. A sheriff's helicopter pilot nearby heard the police broadcast and saw the car.

Richard Cho, 53, of Hacienda Heights has been booked on one count of robbery. Jose Rivera, 35, of Los Angeles was also booked on one count of robbery. Both suspects are being held at the sheriff's Industry Station jail. Bail for Cho has been set at $100,000.

 

This from Whittier Daily News crime guru Ruby Gonzales:

WHITTIER -- A wanted parolee and alleged sex offender who holed up in a hotel across from the sheriff's training academy surrendered to deputies after a two-hour standoff Wednesday.

Arthur Van Meter, 38, was taken into custody by officials with the California Department of Corrections.

Sheriff's Capt. Patrick Maxwell said Van Meter gave up after talking to sheriff's negotiators. No weapons were found in the room, he added. No one was injured during the incident.

Gale Frazier, supervisor at Pasadena Parole Unit I, said Van Meter was on parole for domestic violence and is a sex offender. She said Van Meter had a GPS device attached to him.

However, a search of the Megan's Law database didn't turn up an Arthur Van Meter.
She said Van Meter was supposed to report to parole on May 5 but didn't show up so a no-bail warrant was issued for him on May 6.

"He failed to report. Two agents went to his last residence, found the GPS device. And he had disappeared," Frazier said.

Parole agents tracked Van Meter to the Days Inn at 14330 Telegraph Road. Maxwell said when Van Meter refused to come out, parole called in help from the sheriff's Norwalk Station at about 11 a.m.

You can read the entire story in tomorrow's newspaper. 

A man believed to be the Late Bloomer bandit has been apparently captured by the Whittier Police Department, although there is no information on their site.

FBI shows Late Bloomer captured on their LA Bank Robbers site.

Thanks to the Bank Terrorism blog for this tip.

Here's an excerpt from a Brian Day story about the Late Bloomer published on April 21, 2008:

The Late Bloomer Bandit earned his name because of his age, estimated between 55 and 60, said FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller.

He is believed to have struck the Whittier Union Bank branch at 8510 Painter Ave. on March 28, a Pico Rivera Banco Popular at 8500 Washington Blvd. on March 29, and a Santa Fe Springs Banco Popular at 13310 Telegraph Road on April 16, Eimiller said.

The bandit tells his victims he has a gun and isn't afraid to use it, however no weapon has been seen, Eimiller said.

He also uses profanity and appears to be growing bolder with each robbery, she said.

The Late Bloomer Bandit is described as a white or Latino man, standing about 5 feet 7 inches tall, and weighing 180 to 190 pounds, with gray hair and a mustache, Eimiller said. He wears prescription glasses with black frames and carries a newspaper or magazine where he stows the stolen cash, she said.