Bank Holdup Suspect, Let Go in Error, Surrenders

A suspect in a string of San Fernando Valley bank robberies, who was mistakenly released from jail after he surrendered last month, has surrendered again, authorities said Monday.

James Arthur Pugh, 33, a transient who investigators said used taxicabs and airport shuttle buses to make getaways from at least two of as many as 12 bank robberies, was mistakenly released from the Los Angeles County Jail Aug. 25, a week after he first surrendered, authorities said.

Pugh is suspected of committing three of the 12 robberies after the release--blamed on a paper work mix-up by the FBI, Los Angeles police and the county Sheriff’s Department.

Won’t Happen Again

In the wake of Pugh’s latest surrender, Sunday afternoon, authorities said the mistake will not happen again.

“There is no way he is going to be released this time,” said Lt. Bruce Meyer, head of the Los Angeles police bank robbery unit. “No way. We are not letting him out of our custody.”

Pugh was being held without bail at the Van Nuys jail on a federal warrant charging him with bank robbery, authorities said. He is expected to be turned over to the FBI and arraigned today in U.S. District Court.

The FBI said Pugh is suspected of committing robberies in Panorama City, Eagle Rock and La Canada Flintridge after the mistaken release.

Since he was freed, the search for Pugh had been fruitless, Meyer said. But Pugh dialed 911 about 4:20 p.m. Sunday from a Holiday Inn on Figueroa Street near downtown Los Angeles, he said.

“He informed the operator that he was wanted for bank robbery and he was staying at the Holiday Inn,” Meyer said. “When officers arrived at the location, Pugh was seated outside on the sidewalk and was taken into custody.”

‘Knew He Was Wanted’

Meyer said Pugh surrendered the second time because “he knew he was wanted. Generally, all of the places he could turn to were being covered by the police. It was just a matter of time. He knew it was in his best interest to turn himself in.”

Pugh first surrendered to FBI agents Aug. 19 after he was identified as the bank robbery suspect known as the “Taxicab” or “Flyaway” bandit. The suspect received the nicknames because in at least two robberies he rode to the banks in taxis, had them wait while he went inside and then took them to Van Nuys Airport, where he got on Flyaway shuttle buses to Los Angeles International Airport, authorities said. At LAX, he disappeared into crowds.

After his original surrender, Pugh was placed in the Parker Center jail to be held for violating his probation on a drug conviction. Meanwhile, FBI agents completed gathering evidence in the bank robberies.

Pugh was later transferred to the county jail, but no paper work placing an FBI hold on him followed, and he was released after serving seven days for the probation violation, authorities said.

Los Angeles police and the Sheriff’s Department have said they never received the paper work from the FBI. FBI spokesman Jim Neilson said a hold notice was sent for Pugh, but he would not discuss when or where it was sent, or what went wrong.