Transient Tries to Rob Murrieta Bank: Police

MURRIETA, CA – A transient and Murrieta resident were arrested over the weekend in connection to a failed bank robbery attempt at a local Wells Fargo, police said Monday.

According to Murrieta Police Lt. Tony Conrad, a man later identified as 19-year-old Brandon Tyler walked into the Wells Fargo Bank located at 28007 Scott Road just before 3 p.m. Saturday and handed a note to a teller demanding money.

"After several minutes, the robbery suspect left the bank empty handed," Conrad said in a news release.

A witness described Tyler to police, along with the type of vehicle he was seen getting into upon leaving the bank, Conrad said. Police caught up to him shortly thereafter.

"Officers with the Murrieta Police Department along with deputies with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department conducted a felony stop on the suspect vehicle," he said. "Witnesses were able to positively identify Mr. Tyler as the male that had passed the note demanding money."

Police ultimately arrested the man on suspicion of attempted robbery, and say they recovered the demand note used in the crime.

The man who was driving the car, 24-year-old Thomas Burke of Murrieta, was also arrested on suspicion of being an accessory to the robbery attempt, Conrad said, adding that Burke has an "extensive" criminal history and that the man is currently on parole for robbery.