A man suspected of trying to rob a South Pasadena bank was arrested in Rosemead after a vehicle chase and investigators believe he has struck several Southern California banks.
The suspect, wearing a fake beard, entered the Chase branch at 1305 Fair Oaks Ave. about 12:20 p.m. Thursday and passed a demand note to a teller, according to South Pasadena Police.
The suspect fled without getting any money and an employee saw him getting into a white sedan, police said.
A San Marino police officer spotted the vehicle in the area of Huntington Drive and Bradbury Road and tried to make a traffic stop, but the suspect failed to yield, prompting a chase, police said.
With assistance from a Pasadena Police helicopter the suspect was chased to Rosemead, where he was taken into custody, police said.
He was identified as Joseph Adel Noriega, 37, of Rancho Cucamonga.
Noriega, who was still wearing the fake beard when he was apprehended, is believed to be the so-called “Bluto Bandit,” who is responsible for several bank robberies and attempted bank robberies in Southern California, police said.
—City News Service