‘Sleeves Bandit’ caught

A suspect dubbed the “Sleeves Bandit” by the FBI was arrested Friday in Northern California after police responded to a “bank robbery in progress” call.

Michael Anthony Koselka, 54, of Aptos was arrested in Marysville as officers were investigating a robbery in progress at Tri-Counties Bank.

Police units noticed the driver, later identified as Koselka, in a black Saab leaving the area and attempted to stop the vehicle. The suspect ignored officers and a chase began in West Marysville.

At one point the suspect’s vehicle spun into a parking lot. As he exited the lot, he rammed three Marysville police units. The chase came to a halt when a fourth police unit rammed the Saab into the side of a building.

The FBI suspects Koselka of robbing banks from Northern to Southern California, including the La Cañada Citibank robbery on Jan. 30 and Citibank of La Crescenta on Dec. 26, 2008. Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Det. Frank Diana also believes the suspect is responsible for the Cal-Med Pharmacy robbery that occurred moments after the La Cañada Citibank incident.

During the investigation conducted by the Marysville Police, the suspect admitted to 16 other bank robberies from Monterey County to Los Angeles County.

Koselka was arrested for armed bank robbery, assault with a deadly weapon (his vehicle), attempted murder, evading police officers without regard for public safety and possession of a controlled substance.

Koselka was found with cocaine and heroin in his possession. He was transported and is being held in the Yuba County Jail with bail set at $1 million.

Koselka had served 10 years in federal prison in the mid-1990s for bank robberies.