Dogs Catch Holdup Suspect After Pursuit on Freeway

A Placentia man was arrested on suspicion of bank robbery Thursday after leading police on a high-speed chase on the Riverside Freeway that ended when he abandoned his car and tried to hide under a truck, only to be caught by police dogs, Buena Park police reported.

The suspect, David Henry Flores, 32, was taken into custody after a manhunt by police units from Fullerton, Anaheim, Orange, Garden Grove and Buena Park. He was charged with the Thursday afternoon robbery of the Bank of America at Tustin Avenue and Lincoln Street in Orange.

According to Buena Park Officer Rich McMillen, Flores was driving a white 1978 Cadillac that had been seen leaving the bank when he was spotted by a Fullerton police officer on the Riverside Freeway. The Cadillac later was reported stolen from Buena Park.

After a short high-speed chase, the suspect left the freeway and abandoned his car, taking off on foot. He was found hiding under a truck near the 6000 block of Burnham Street by Fullerton police dogs.

McMillen said Flores, who was also charged with possession of stolen property, would be turned over to the FBI early Friday. He said it was not immediately known if the money taken in the bank robbery was recovered.