Police searching for armed suspect who robbed Central Coast bank
Law enforcement officers have asked for help locating a man armed with a knife who forced his way into a Santa Maria bank on Monday, keeping employees inside before he left with money.
The incident occurred about 8:15 a.m. Monday, before regular business hours, at Community West Bank, 122 E. Betteravia Road, according to Lt. Daniel Rios from the Santa Maria Police Department’s Detective Bureau.
Patrol officers quickly arrived on the scene, but the suspect had already fled the area with an undisclosed amount of money, Rios said Tuesday.
The employees did not sustain any physical injuries during the incident.
Detectives and SMPD crime lab technicians joined with FBI agents from the Santa Maria field office to investigate the robbery.
Police detectives have taken over the investigation and are seeking the public’s assistance with identifying and locating the suspect and involved vehicle, Rios said.
The Spanish-speaking man was wearing blue jeans, brown shoes, a black hooded sweatshirt, and a red and white flannel jacket over the sweatshirt, Rios said.
The suspect was armed with a knife and wearing a surgical mask.
The suspect drove a gray 2015 Ford F150 truck with an extended cab and long bed.
A Santa Maria bank robbery suspect leaves the scene of the crime on Monday morning. (Santa Maria Police Department photo)
The truck had a black construction-style “headache” rack attached to the truck bed, and fixed running boards, police said.
Investigators located video surveillance that captured the suspect and his vehicle, which were last seen near Conserve Fuel at Bradley and Betteravia roads about 8:20 a.m.
The vehicle is believed to be out of the Southern California area, and detectives are working with the FBI to attempt to locate the suspect and the suspect vehicle, Rios said.
Anyone with any information, including those who may have been by the bank or Betteravia corridor near the time of occurrence, can contact SMPD Detective Ivan Swenson at 805.928.3781 x1648 or the SMPD Communications Center at 805-928-3781, ext. 2277.
