Santa Ana : Man Robs Bank, Fires Shot at Branch Manager

A gun-wielding robber forced his way into the vault of a Santa Ana bank Friday morning, stole cash and checks, then fired a shot at the bank manager, who chased him as he fled, authorities said.

The man entered the Valencia Bank branch, at 1820 E. First St., at 10:15 a.m., wearing a ski mask. He pulled a gun and approached a woman employee, demanding entry to the vault, said Ken Slezak, senior vice president.

The gunman grabbed the woman “by the back of the neck” until the branch operations officer escorted him into the vault, Slezak said, where he scooped up an undisclosed amount of money. Police alarms were tripped during the robbery, but officers arrived after the robber had fled on foot, he said.

“It was all very, very quick,” Slezak said.

The branch manager, Walt Walton, a former police officer, ran after the robber, who fired a shot and missed him, Slezak said.

Santa Ana police said the gunman ran across the street, into a health club and office building. Police cordoned off the area and searched--aided by a helicopter and two dogs--for two hours, but the man had vanished, said Lt. Terry Bakin.

The club, Racquetball World, is in a business complex with interconnecting parking lots, and the man “was lost (to police) in the maze,” Bakin said.

John O’Neill, of the FBI, said the robber was described as a Caucasian, about 25, about 6 feet tall and 175 pounds, with a medium build and light brown, curly hair. He wore tan trousers and a blue zippered jacket. The weapon was described as a blue steel revolver with a 4-inch or 6-inch barrel, O’Neill said.