Burbank police say bank robbery foiled by response to taxi cab call

Two men were arrested Tuesday by police who say the pair was about to rob a bank in Burbank.

The men -- Spencer Wygle, 26, of Burbank, and Evan Kent, 27, of Glendale -- reportedly took a cab to Chase Bank in the Pavilions parking lot on West Alameda and allegedly told the cab driver they couldn’t pay the cab fare.

Police were dispatched to the scene at 12:35 p.m. when someone reported the disturbance.

When police arrived, Wygle was allegedly seated in the cab with what police believe was a heroin-loaded syringe. Wygle was subsequently arrested on suspicion of possessing heroin and for having two outstanding arrest warrants.

Meanwhile, the cab driver directed officers to Kent, who was standing in line at Chase bank. Before police approached him, Kent allegedly dropped a bag on the floor and was escorted outside by police officers, who planned to interview him regarding the cab payment.

A bank employee alerted officers to the dropped bag, inside which police reported finding a stolen handgun. Police believe the pair was involved in a conspiracy to commit robbery.

Wygle and Kent are being held in lieu of $55,000 and $50,000 bail, respectively, and are due in court later this week.

-- Alene Tchekmedyian, Times Community News

Follow Alene Tchekmedyian on Google+ and on Twitter: @atchek