Suspect In Rohnert Park Bank Robbery Arrested, Police Say

ROHNERT PARK, CA — A man accused of robbing a Rohnert Park bank this week has been arrested, officials with the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety said Thursday. John David Jorgenson, 50, is suspected of passing a note demanding money to a teller at Westamerica Bank, 300 Rohnert Park Expressway at 1:08 p.m. Tuesday, then leaving the scene with $400 in stolen cash, police said.

In viewing surveillance footage from the bank robbery, police recognized Jorgenson because officers had made contact with him just two days prior when he was loitering near Pep Boys Auto Parts on Redwood Drive, Rohnert Park DPS Deputy Chief Aaron Johnson told Patch on Friday.

Information about Jorgenson's vehicle, a late-model Volkswagen bus, was also obtained during that contact, Johnson said.

On Wednesday, Rohnert Park detectives located Jorgenson's VW in Santa Rosa.

"The van was recovered and evidence connecting Jorgenson to the bank robbery was located inside the van," Johnson said.

Although police had the van, they had yet to locate Jorgenson.

"He wasn't in the van when we found it," Johnson told Patch.

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At 12:56 p.m. Thursday, detectives were informed that Jorgenson was spotted at the dog park at the north end of Roberts Lake Road in Rohnert Park. Patrol units were dispatched to the park but Jorgenson was not located.

The search effort continued as both marked and undercover police units, as well as a Sonoma County sheriff's helicopter crew, canvassed the surrounding areas.

When detectives decided to also check a self-storage facility Jorgenson was known to frequent — SmartStop Self Storage near Todd Road in south Santa Rosa — he was there.

Jorgenson was taken into custody without further incident and was booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of robbery and burglary. Jail records show his bail was set at $50,000 for the Rohnert Park charges.

However, because Jorgenson also had a warrant out for his arrest, he is being held without bail, Patch confirmed Friday evening with the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office.