Suspected Dana Point Bank Robber Dies In South OC

DANA POINT, CA — A serial bank robbery suspect was found dead inside his truck last week after a wild chase through south Orange County, officials reported. The suspect, known as the "Leatherface Bandit" was thought to be tied to a series of armed heists across Orange County.

On Friday, officials responded to a bank robbery at Dana Point's Pacific Western Bank, on the 34000 block of Pacific Coast Highway, shortly before 4 p.m., FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller reported.

As per his modus operandi, the suspect was wearing an elderly-man mask and fled the bank riding an electric bicycle, having stolen "an unknown amount of cash," according to report. He then stashed the bike in the bed of a white pickup truck and drove off, officials stated.

A witness described the getaway vehicle,aiding officers in locating the white truck, FBI Special Agent Christopher Gickling told KTLA.

The white truck was located by OCSD deputies in Mission Viejo and pursued into Rancho Santa Margarita, according to Orange County Sheriff's Department.

There, he crashed into a parked car while making a U-turn at the intersection of Banderas and Empressa where the police standoff ensued.

Orange County Sheriff's Department officers attempted to arrest the suspect, however "he was not complying with deputies commands to exit the truck," an OCSD spokesperson reported.
A SWAT team advanced upon the truck but discovered the suspect was dead inside of the cab. "The Orange County Coroner's office was investigating the cause of death," they said.

The Leatherface Bandit is suspected of multiple armed robberies across Orange County, including Newport Beach, Costa Mesa and Yorba Linda, the FBI reported.