Man Arraigned in Bank Robbery

A 32-year-old San Pedro man who authorities believe may be responsible for as many as 15 harbor-area bank robberies was arraigned earlier this week in federal court on charges of robbing a San Pedro bank last Friday.

Donald Raymond Hernandez, who Los Angeles police said has confessed to a string of recent bank robberies in San Pedro, Wilmington and other local communities, was arraigned Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kirtland Mahlum on one count of bank robbery. Authorities said he may be charged with other bank robberies after his case is presented to a federal grand jury.

Hernandez was arrested by Los Angeles police last Friday shortly after a 5:30 p.m. robbery at a branch of Glendale Federal Bank at 556 9th St. in San Pedro. At the time of the robbery, authorities said, a plainclothes detective was inside the bank and notified police after the robber fled the bank.

Hernandez was taken into custody about a block from the bank with an undisclosed amount of money allegedly taken in the robbery, authorities said.