Bank of America robbery leads to 3 arrests
NEWPORT BEACH — The normally tranquil Newport Beach community of Corona Del Mar was rattled June 8 around 11 a.m., when two armed men stormed the Bank of America at 3300 East Coast Highway and robbed it before leading police on a car chase through several cities.
Ronald Jordan, 40, Michael Monette, 38, and their female accomplice, Vishani Williams, 31, all of Long Beach, were taken into custody in Long Beach following the lengthy chase. Each faces charges of robbery.
According to a police report, Jordan and Monette entered the bank wearing dark clothes, sunglasses and fake beards. Pointing their guns in the air, they ordered bank customers and employees to the ground, jumped over the teller counter, seized an undisclosed amount of cash and fled the bank.
A witness at the scene was able to provide police with a description of the duo’s getaway car and direction of escape, tips that helped the Newport Beach police helicopter, EAGLE, locate the vehicle 10 minutes later in Fountain Valley.
A chase ensued, the suspects leading police onto the 405 freeway and through the cities of Westminster, Los Alamitos and Seal Beach before finally pulling over at Tivoli and Second Streets in Long Beach.
The two male suspects then abandoned the vehicle, continuing their effort to elude police. The EAGLE helicopter kept them in sight, however, and ground units were able to take the two into custody minutes later.
The female suspect, Williams, was found hiding in the suspect car and also arrested at the scene.
The three were booked into Newport Beach Jail and all are being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.
