Santa Ana : Suspect Seized in Bank Theft Was Wanted Man
Santa Ana police Friday arrested a 24-year-old man shortly after a savings and loan was robbed and then learned that he was the prime suspect in 24 other bank robberies in Orange County during the past six months, a police spokesman said.
Sgt. Collie Provence said Gilbert Louis Camacho, 28, of Santa Ana, walked into the Republic Savings & Loan office in the 2400 block of East 17th Street at 12:30 p.m. and gave a teller a note demanding money.
The teller handed over $615 in cash, and the man fled west on 17th Street in a black and blue Chevrolet, Provence said. Motorcycle Officer Art Morales and Patrolman Steve Lodge spotted the suspect in the 600 block of East 17th Street and followed him.
Provence said Camacho drove onto the Santa Ana Freeway and was stopped near the Harbor Boulevard exit by the two pursuing officers. He was arrested without incident, and the $615 was recovered, Provence said.
Camacho was booked into County Jail on one count of bank robbery, and bail was set at $50,000.
Provence said Camacho was the primary suspect in 24 other bank robberies in the county since October, 1986, including 10 in Santa Ana.
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