Man Suspected of Robbing Novato Bank Arrested A Short Time Later: Police

NOVATO, CA — A man who allegedly robbed a Novato bank at gunpoint Tuesday was taken into custody a short time later, thanks to alert citizens and a bank tracking device, Novato police said.

According to Novato police Detective Sgt. Jennifer Dunlap, several patrol units were sent to Redwood Credit Union, 1010 Grant Ave., shortly after 12:41 p.m. Tuesday when several of the alert citizens called police to report they'd seen a black man putting on a mask as he walked into the bank.

The sergeant said responding officers determined the suspect, armed with a handgun, had already entered the bank and demanded money.

"The suspect pointed the handgun at employees and jumped over the bank teller’s counter," Dunlap said. "The suspect obtained an undisclosed amount of cash from the teller’s drawer and fled the bank. None of the bank employees or customers were injured during the robbery."

As more officers and detectives arrived at the scene, several witnesses came forward and provided information, which Dunlap said was instrumental in identifying and locating the suspect.

Police obtained the suspect’s vehicle description and license plate number, and with the assistance of a bank security tracking device, detectives responded to location indicated by the GPS, where they found the suspect's vehicle, she said.

After officers established a perimeter of the area, a suspect was detained on Cutlass Drive while the vehicle was searched.

Based on evidence recovered from the vehicle, Dunlap said the suspect, Jacaree Carter, 28, of Novato, was arrested and booked into the Marin County Jail on suspicion of robbery and use of a firearm during commission of a felony.

"The Novato Police Department would like to thank the California Highway Patrol and the Marin County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance during this investigation," Dunlap said. "We would also like to thank the alert citizens who reported the suspicious activity prior to a crime being committed, and the alert citizens who remained in the area to provide police with valuable information, leading to the suspect’s apprehension and arrest."

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