Lafayette Police Arrest Alleged Armed Bank Robber

Police tracked a suspect Thursday immediately after he robbed a Lafayette bank and, following a brief scuffle, arrested him, Lafayette police said.

Police received a call at 12:37 p.m. Thursday regarding an armed man robbing Mechanics Bank at 3640 Mt. Diablo Blvd.

Police later identified the suspect as Joseph Velasco, 34, of Antioch. Velasco allegedly demanded money of employees and then seized it from the bank’s cash drawers, police said.

The caller advised police what direction he fled afterward, and officers began searching for him.

Meanwhile, police called on BART officials to temporarily pass trains through the Lafayette station without stopping out of concern that the suspect may have fled there. Police said the suspect was found 10 minutes after the robbery, sitting in a vehicle parked about a mile south of the bank.

When officers made contact, police said the suspect reached for something in his waistband. After struggling with the suspect, officers identified the weapon as a BB gun.

Police said disguises, cash and a note demanding cash was found in Velasco’s possession.

Velasco was arrested on suspicion of robbery and several other crimes, police said. He was booked into Martinez Detention Facility.

--Bay City News