2 Arrested in Bank Robbery After Witness Follows Suspect

Two men were arrested Thursday morning after the robbery of a First Interstate Bank in Huntington Beach because a tanker-truck driver followed one man out of the bank and gave chase with police officers.

“It really worked out neat. They tried to rob a bank, and they just couldn’t,” said David Carney, 27, a lifelong resident of Huntington Beach.

Carney said he was waiting at the bank on Beach Boulevard to talk to the branch manager about a loan when a man wearing black gloves and sunglasses and carrying a briefcase walked up to a teller.

Police Sgt. Ed Deuel said the man “said he had a gun and would use it,” and fled with $4,000 cash.

Carney followed the man into the parking lot, watched as he got into a yellow Camaro driven by another man, and then spotted a police car nearby as the Camaro disappeared up the street.

Carney and Officer Mike Preece gave chase and, assisted by other units, eventually pulled the Camaro over and arrested Ruben Montijo, 36, and Ruben Rojas, 32, both of San Pedro.

Both cash and a handgun were recovered from the car, Deuel said. Montijo and Rojas were being held in Orange County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail each.

“It looks like we would not have caught them had it not been for the witness pointing out the suspect vehicle and description,” Deuel said.