Man Cleared as ‘Rolex Bandit’ Still a Suspect in Theft Attempt

A Westwood computer salesman suspected of 16 robberies in the West Los Angeles area attributed to the “Rolex Bandit” was cleared of involvement in the string of crimes.

But, Frederick Lewis, 30, remains charged with trying to rob a Malibu businessman of his Rolex watch at gunpoint Oct. 26 and was freed Friday on $3,000 bail.

His attorney said the case has “dramatic racial overtones” and maintained that his client, who is black, was arrested because he fit a vague physical description of the robber.

Victim’s Account

Robbery victim Bilal Baroody told sheriff’s deputies a man confronted him with a gun and demanded his watch, threatening to shoot his wife. The report said Baroody would not turn over the watch and scuffled with the man. He then told the robber that the police were on their way and chased him down the street, the report said.

Lewis was arrested half an hour later standing by his car on Pacific Coast Highway, about half a mile from Baroody’s home, said Malibu Sheriff’s Lt. John Love. Lewis said he had been jogging in the area.

He fit the description given by Baroody of a “a male black with short-cropped hair, approximately 6 feet tall and stocky, dark blue or green pants and jacket.”

“They were looking for a black male. I just happened to be the first one they encountered,” Lewis said.

The NAACP is monitoring the case because defense attorney Charles Lindner and other Lewis supporters believe that the one-time UCLA graduate business student is innocent and was arrested only because he is black.

After Lewis was arrested, Baroody and his wife, Jackie, identified Lewis.

“They were in the back seat of a car about 30 feet away from where I was standing by the police headlights,” Lewis said. “I just can’t see how they could see enough facial detail to be positive.”

Wearing 2 Pairs of Jeans

Investigators said Lewis was arrested in part because he was wearing two pairs of jeans, a common ploy of robbers. The outside pair, of a different color, is typically shed after a holdup.

But, Lindner said both pairs that Lewis was wearing were the same color. He said Lewis was wearing two pairs while jogging on the beach because he wanted to work up a sweat and lose weight.

Lewis said he waived his rights and talked to sheriffs deputies the night of his arrest.

“I told them straight what had happened; I wanted to be cooperative,” he said.

Lewis was released the next morning on $3,000 bail.

Two days later, Lewis said he received a call from sheriff’s detectives asking him to come in for questioning.

“They told me, ‘We believe you may be more innocent than guilty. We’d like you to come in for questioning,’ ” Lewis said. “My exact words then were, ‘Hallelujah, I’ll be happy to come in and clear things up.’ ”

But when Lewis came in, he was rearrested and his bail raised to $463,000. He spent the weekend in Malibu substation jail and was arraigned Monday in Malibu Municipal Court, where he pleaded not guilty to attempted robbery and assault with a deadly weapon.

On Friday, Deputy Dist. Atty. Yvonne Dodd said she did not believe Lewis was connected to the “Rolex Bandit” crimes. Police said photo lineups shown to victims convinced investigators that Lewis was not connected to the string of crimes.