Police Arrest 4 Suspects in Buena Park Bank Robbery

A man and three juveniles suspected of at least two “takeover” bank robberies in Buena Park were chased and arrested in Paramount on Monday, said FBI special agent Gary Morley.

The arrests occurred after four armed males entered the Bank of America in the 7800 block of La Palma Avenue in Buena Park about 11 a.m. Monday and ordered everyone to lie on the floor, Police Sgt. Terry Branum said.

One of the employees “was told to open the safe, and she told them through tears that she had only started working at the bank one month ago and didn’t know the combination,” Branum said.

The robbers took the money from the drawers and escaped, but two witnesses wrote down the robbers’ license plate number and give it to Buena Park police.

The number and descriptions of the robbers were broadcast, and a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy spotted the stolen 1984 Buick driving toward Los Angeles on the Artesia Freeway.

Deputies chased the suspects, who exited the freewaynear Paramount, and followed them into a residential area.

More than 60 deputies set up a perimeter and through the use of a helicopter and a canine unit were able to find two of the suspects under a house.

The other two suspects had run behind a medical center and into the Pantry Restaurant, which was immediately evacuated by deputies.

One of the suspects was discovered hiding in a trash bin behind the restaurant and the other was found inside the dining area around 1:30 p.m., Branum said.

“There is a possibility the four men may have been involved in another takeover bank robbery” which occurred Aug. 27 at a Security Pacific Bank branch in Buena Park, Morley said. Following that robbery, witnesses said they saw dye explode in a car with four men inside.

“Witnesses said they saw four men laughing and throwing money outside of the window as they left the area,” Branum said.

One of those arrested on suspicion of bank robbery was Michael Alvin Jones, 27, of Los Angeles, who is being held on $50,000 bail.

The other three, all juveniles, are being held at Orange County Juvenile Hall.