HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009_12_15_09_B of A bank robbery arrest
BAKERSFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT PRESS RELEASE William Rector, Chief of Police ________________________________________________________________________ Contact: Detective Mary DeGeare Public
Information Officer 661-326-3803 mdegeare@Bakersfieldpd.us For Immediate Release December 15, 2009 On 12/15/09, at about 2:00 p.m., Bakersfield Police arrested John Thomas Bell Jr. 37
for the Bank of America robbery on Friday, 12/11/09. Bell was identified through the surveillance photos and he was located in Gardena, California and arrested. Bell was in the company
of Lachandra Victoria Leavell 25 from Stevenson Ranch, Ca. who was determined to be Bell’s getaway driver. Leavell was also arrested for the robbery. Both were booked into the Kern County
Jail. Original Release December 11, 2009 On 12/11/09, at 1:23 p.m., Bakersfield Police responded to a robbery alarm at the Bank of America 9000 Ming Avenue. Investigation revealed that
the man depicted in the attached video entered the bank, waited in line and then provided the teller with a note indicating he was committing a robbery, he was armed and if they did
not comply with his demands someone would get hurt. The man provided the teller with a grey, older style, full size Bank of America merchant bag which she used to place the money in
and then handed it back to him. The man calmly exited the bank. He is described as a Black male 40s, 6’0”-6’4”, 180-190 pounds, short black hair, mustache, beard and goatee with acne
scars under his beard. He was wearing a black trench coat, black slacks, a dress shirt and tie and was carrying an over the shoulder backpack or satchel. Witnesses in the bank described
the man as well spoken having good posture. Several people in the area were detained as possible suspects or accomplices however they were determined to be uninvolved and released. Anyone
with information regarding the identity of the robbery suspect depicted in the attached video is encouraged to call the Bakersfield Police Department at 327-7111.