Bank Heist Suspect Also Wanted for Richmond Murder

San Rafael police arrested a man suspected of robbing the Bank of Marin on Tuesday morning who also was wanted for a Richmond homicide, police lieutenant said.

A black man with a handgun robbed the bank branch at 1101 Fourth St. around 10:35 a.m., Cpl. Alex Holm said. The suspect entered the bank after requesting access via the bank’s secured front door security system, and once inside he told the teller he was robbing the bank, Holm said.

The suspect became agitated and displayed a handgun, and bank employees gave him an undisclosed amount of money. Witnesses inside the bank were not harmed, Holm said.

The suspect was last seen in the area of Fourth and A streets. He was described as approximately 40 years old, possibly 6 feet tall with a scruffy beard. He was wearing a dark-colored, possibly black shirt with a cartoon basketball player design that is possibly red and white on the front, a dark-colored hoodie, black leather jacket and blue jeans, Holm said.

The suspect also was wearing a gray baseball style hat with a black brim and a red and white San Francisco 49er’s logo on the front, Holm said.

Around 11 a.m. police saw a person at the San Rafael Transit Center located three blocks from the bank who was wearing clothing described by witnesses to the bank robbery. Capt. Glenn McElderry and Lt. Alan Piombo contacted 36-year-old John Williams of San Rafael, Lt. Raffaello Pata said.

Williams initially was cooperative with the officers but reached for a bag he had placed on the ground and tried to get away, Pata said.

The two officers tried to detain Williams and prevent him from getting the bag, but Williams resisted and tried to escape, Pata said.

Sgt. Mike Vergara responded to assist the officers, and Williams was handcuffed while lying on the ground. Officers saw a semi-automatic pistol in Williams’ waistband, Pata said.

The handgun had one round in the chamber, additional rounds in the magazine and there was more ammunition in the bag Williams tried to keep from the officers, Pata said. Williams was arrested and carried to a patrol vehicle because he refused to walk, Pata said.

He was taken to police headquarters where he was examined by the San Rafael Fire Department and determined to be uninjured, Pata said.

Witnesses to the bank robbery were unable to identify him as the robbery suspect, however, Pata said.

Police checked Williams for warrants and determined he was wanted for a homicide in Richmond, Pata said.

He was to be booked this evening in the Marin County Jail on the arrest warrant for murder and faces additional San Rafael charges, Pata said.

By Bay City News

Photo courtesy of the FBI

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