Local News in Brief : Robbery Suspect Freed by Mistake
A suspected bandit who used taxicabs and airport shuttle buses to make his escapes from San Fernando Valley bank robberies made a getaway last month from the County Jail because of a paper work foul-up, authorities said Friday.
James Arthur Pugh, 33, was mistakenly released Aug. 25, one week after he surrendered to FBI agents who had been searching for him for a string of nine Valley bank robberies that netted about $20,000.
Pugh was jailed initially for violating probation on a drug conviction, and the FBI began putting together evidence in the bank robbery cases, officials said. But sheriff’s deputies said they never received a notice from the FBI to hold Pugh and were unaware of the bank robbery allegations. Pugh was released after he served seven days for the probation violation.
“There was no hold indicated from the FBI,” Deputy Eric Smith said. Since his release, Pugh is suspected in three more bank robberies: Sept. 8 in La Canada Flintridge, Sept. 9 in Panorama City and Wednesday in Eagle Rock, FBI spokesman Jim Neilson said.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
