Crime & Safety
Serial North Bay Bank Robber Arrested, Police Say
The suspect in robberies in Healdsburg, Santa Rosa and Cloverdale wore a wig and hat to disguise his appearance, police said.
NORTH BAY, CA — The suspect in a string of recent bank robberies in Healdsburg, Santa Rosa, Cloverdale and Ukiah was apprehended this week after he allegedly robbed a Cloverdale bank, according to police. Travis Strickland, 37, of Ukiah, was arrested in a traffic stop following the 4:54 p.m. robbery Tuesday of Exchange Bank at 116 S. Cloverdale Blvd., Santa Rosa police Sgt. Josh Ludtke said in a news release Wednesday.
"A suspect entered the bank and passed a note demanding money disguising his appearance with a wig and hat," Ludtke said of Tuesday's robbery. "After the suspect left the bank Cloverdale officers located a black Mercedes driven by the suspect in the 200 block of South Cloverdale Boulevard and conducted a high-risk traffic stop and arrested the driver."
Based on the description of the suspect, his clothing, his vehicle and the manner in which he committed the crimes, the arresting officers believed the driver, later identified as Strickland, was responsible for the string bank robberies and attempted bank robberies — including the Nov. 29 robbery of Chase Bank in Healdsburg.
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"Detectives from the Santa Rosa Police Department have been working with detectives from agencies as far north as Humboldt County to identify and arrest the suspect responsible for these incidents," Ludtke said.
With Strickland in custody, Santa Rosa police detectives and evidence technicians responded to Cloverdale to assist with interviews, processing the scene and collecting evidence. Santa Rosa detectives also worked with officers and detectives from the Ukiah and Healdsburg police departments throughout the investigation.
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While serving search warrants, police found clothing — a hooded sweatshirt and a baseball cap — and other evidence in Strickland's car and home that allegedly linked him to the crimes, including the Nov. 20 robbery of Santa Rosa Exchange Bank, Ludtke said.
Strickland was transported by Cloverdale police to Sonoma County jail, where he was booked on suspicion of attempted robbery, robbery, burglary and an outstanding misdemeanor arrest warrant out of Mendocino County.
Strickland remained in custody Wednesday night in lieu $500,000 bail.
Photos courtesy Santa Rosa Police Department
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