A Los Angeles man who barricaded himself in his car after he allegedly attempted to rob a bank in Koreatown pleaded not guilty Monday to a federal charge.
Oscar Canales, 24, entered his plea to a count of attempted bank robbery, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
A trial date of July 11 was scheduled in Los Angeles federal court.
Canales allegedly entered the Bank of Hope in the 2700 block of W. Olympic Boulevard at about 1:30 p.m. on April 13. Dressed in a dark suit, Canales is alleged to have verbally demanded money from two tellers. According to witnesses, he reached into his waistband as if to grab a weapon, court papers show.
When Los Angeles Police Department officers responded to the bank, Canales was holding a knife in one hand and appeared to be holding another object in his other hand and threatened to have a bomb, federal prosecutors allege.
Almost an hour later, Canales walked out of the bank and barricaded himself in his vehicle for several hours before officers safely removed him. During the standoff, a SWAT team was called and nearby residents were evacuated as a precaution.
Investigators are continuing to determine whether Canales may be responsible for other bank robberies or attempted bank robberies.