North Bay Bank Robbery: 2 More Arrests Made

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — Two Rohnert Park residents were arrested Thursday in connection with a November bank robbery in Santa Rosa.

Detectives from Santa Rosa Police Department’s Violent Crimes Team continued to investigate the robbery Nov. 10 at Westamerica Bank, 2498 Guerneville Road, during which two men armed with handguns tied up bank employees and stole money, SRPD Sgt. Brandon Mathies said in a news release.

Although detectives made two arrests Feb. 3, they believed there were still outstanding suspects responsible for the robbery.

"Through their investigation, detectives were able to identify two additional suspects: Brandon Celis-Sanchez and Gilary Morales-Sanchez," Matthies said.

At 7:35 a.m. Thursday, detectives and SWAT officers arrested Celis-Sanchez in the 2300 block of Northpoint Parkway in Santa Rosa.

Shortly after, detectives from Santa Rosa PD and officers from the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety arrested Morales-Sanchez in the 600 block of Enterprise Drive in Rohnert Park.

Detectives also served search warrants Thursday at residences in the 800 block of Corte Azul and the 600 block of Enterprise Circle in Rohnert Park.

Celis-Sanchez, a 22-year-old Rohnert Park man, was booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of felony robbery, felony kidnapping, felony possession of brass knuckles and misdemeanor possession of gloves with composite knuckles. His bail was set at $100,000.

Morales-Sanchez, a 21-year-old Rohnert Park woman, was booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of felony robbery and felony accessory to a crime.

On Feb. 3, Estefani Lisset Ruiz-Montiel, a 29-year-old Santa Rosa woman was arrested on suspicion of accessory to a crime. A car registered in her name was used in the robbery, according to police.

The day of her arrest while she was being interviewed at the Santa Rosa Police Department, her 21-year-old brother, Jeferson Eduardo Ruiz-Montiel, also showed up at the police department and was interviewed.

Detectives then served a search warrant at the siblings' residence in the 1300 block of Wright Street in Santa Rosa where they found evidence of the bank robbery, including a handgun, a replica handgun and zip ties, Santa Rosa police said at the time.

Jeferson was arrested that day on suspicion of felony robbery and felony kidnapping, and detectives continued to search for the second male suspect.

As of Thursday, Jeferson remained behind bars with his bail set at $250,000 and a court date set for April 18.