Glendale : Elderly Suspect to Be Tried

An elderly man accused of trying to rob a Bank of America branch office in La Crescenta was ordered to stand trial Tuesday by a Glendale judge.

During a preliminary hearing, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Detective Ken Talianko said the suspect, Antonio Estrada, 72, of Eagle Rock was spotted July 2 by a teller who noticed his blue jumpsuit, apparent fake beard and mustache, sunglasses and baseball cap.

The teller told Talianko that Estrada stood inside the bank near a doorway for about one minute and appeared nervous. He stepped back outside and the teller set off a silent alarm, the detective said.

Estrada was arrested by Glendale police in his Pontiac Grand Prix in a parking lot about 100 yards from the bank. Officer Joseph Allen testified that the suspect was still wearing the disguise. A .38-caliber handgun and a starter’s pistol were found in the car, which had no front license plate, police said. They said the rear plate was covered by a plastic bag.

No defense witnesses were called by public defender Phil Matsumoto. Outside court, Estrada, who is free on bail, said that he had no intent to rob the bank, but declined to elaborate.

Glendale Municipal Judge Joseph W. Chandler ordered Estrada to appear in Pasadena Superior Court on Aug. 10 for arraignment on two felony counts and two misdemeanors.