Local News in Brief : Anaheim : Bank Robbery Suspect Dissuaded From Leap

Police spent 45 minutes persuading a woman not to jump off a Riverside Freeway overpass in Anaheim, then discovered that she was wanted by the FBI for three Orange County bank robberies.

Evelyn Ann Atwood, 26, of Anaheim was being held Thursday in County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail.

Atwood apparently climbed over the railing of the Lemon Avenue overpass Wednesday evening and then threatened to jump, Police Lt. William Wright said.

California Highway Patrol officers closed the westbound lanes and detoured traffic for 45 minutes while two officers talked with Atwood and persuaded her to climb back to safety.

Wright said that when officers ran a routine check of records, they discovered the arrest warrant.

FBI spokesman Fred Reagan said Atwood was wanted for robberies of Security Pacific National Bank in Garden Grove, Downey Savings & Loan in Fountain Valley and First Interstate Bank on South Brea Street in Brea.

According to Reagan, in each case the robber presented a note to the teller reading: “Don’t scream and don’t sound the alarm. I have a gun, and I’ll use it. Just give me the money.” He did not specify the amount of cash taken.