Bank Robbery Suspect Sought By Santa Rosa Police

SANTA ROSA, CA — Police are investigating a bank robbery reported Monday in Santa Rosa — the second this month in the city and the fourth in Sonoma County since October.

In Monday's incident, the suspect went into Chase Bank, 2300 Sonoma Ave., at 12:43 p.m. and, claiming to have a gun, passed a note to the teller demanding money, Santa Rosa police said.

The teller gave an unknown amount of cash to the suspect, who then walked out of the bank and got into an unknown car, police said in a news release.

No employees or customers were injured, according to police.

The suspect was described as a white or light-skinned Hispanic man in his mid-20s to early 30s who was between 5 feet 11 inches and 6 feet tall with a husky build. He was wearing a dark-colored baseball hat, a black "Security" jacket, dark-colored pants, black and white shoes, a blue surgical mask, and blue gloves.

"Numerous officers were dispatched to the bank and searched the area for the suspect," police said. "After an extensive area search, the suspect was not located."

Detectives with the Santa Rosa Police Department are seeking to speak with anyone who may have information; anyone who witnessed the robbery is asked to call the Santa Rosa Police Violent Crimes Team at 707-543-3590.

A reward of up to $2,500 is being offered by the Sonoma County Alliance Community Engagement and Safety Rewards Fund for information leading to the arrest of the suspect or suspects involved.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Santa Rosa police were still investigating whether Monday's incident and three other bank robberies in Sonoma County may be connected.

The first was on Oct. 26 at Wells Fargo at 5 Padre Parkway in Rohnert Park; the second was on Dec. 4 at Exchange Bank, 499 Stony Point Road in Santa Rosa; and the third was on Dec. 19 at Bank of America, 6545 Hunter Dr. in Rohnert Park.

"Our Violent Crimes Unit is still investigating any potential connection between the recent bank robberies in Sonoma County, but specifically the two in Santa Rosa (12/4 & 12/21)," Sgt. Christopher Mahurin wrote in an email to Patch. "As of now, we haven’t concluded if they are linked. But it is a theory we are looking into."

ALSO SEE:

• Suspect Sought In North Bay Bank Robbery
• Bank Robbed By Suspect With Red Tattoo: Santa Rosa Police
• Help Sought To Identify Rohnert Park Bank Robber