San Diego man pleads not guilty to bank robberies in Fountain Valley

A San Diego man pleaded not guilty to charges of second degree robbery on Thursday after he was arrested Tuesday in Fountain Valley for allegedly attempting to rob the same bank twice.

Fountain Valley police said they responded to calls reporting a robbery at around 3 p.m. on Monday at a Chase bank in the 17000 block of Newhope Street. Police said investigations showed that the suspect — Samuel Brown, 33 — showed the bank teller a note demanding cash. The suspect then fled with a “large amount of cash” prior to police arrival.

The following day at around 11:12 a.m., Fountain Valley dispatch received another call of a robbery in progress at the same Chase bank. Officers and detectives then arrived on the scene and arrested Brown on suspicion of robbery and an outstanding arrest warrant.

Police did not respond to inquiries as to the amount stolen, whether or not Brown was armed or what the note said.

Brown remains in custody on a bail of $172,500, according to jail records. He is next scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 21 at the West Justice Center in Westminster.

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