Bank robbery suspect arrested

Police arrested a man just one hour after he allegedly walked out of a Huntington Beach bank this week with about $20,000 in cash.

Authorities took Patrick Murphy, 53, into custody about 2 p.m. Monday. Murphy was described by authorities as a transient local to the Orange County area.

Murphy entered the Comerica Bank at 17011 Beach Blvd. at 1:06 p.m. and verbally demanded money from a bank teller, authorities said. Police were notified two minutes later by a robbery alarm from the bank. There were no injuries.

Police located Murphy, who fit the robber’s description, about a block away from the bank; he was detained in front of the Howard Johnson hotel on Beach Boulevard, and he later admitted to the robbery, authorities said.

At this time, there is no indication Murphy is involved in any other robberies, authorities said. He was booked at the Huntington Beach Police Department city jail.

Murphy, wearing a baseball cap with an American flag and eagle on it, was carrying a black duffel bag, a red Target reusable shopping bag and a red backpack when he was apprehended.

“When he was arrested, he was armed with a pocketknife in his jacket pocket,” Lt. Russell Reinhart said.

Reporter CANDICE BAKER may be reached at (714) 966-4631 or at candice.baker@latimes.com.