Johnie Dean Arnold
The San Luis Obispo Police began searching for a bank robbery suspect who allegedly robbed the Heritage Oaks Bank on Monday, and by Thursday they had their man.
According to SLOPD, they received a call around 2:22 p.m. from Heritage Oaks Bank, located at 1501 Froom Ranch. The silent alarm had been activated by one of the bank tellers, indicating it was a hold-up alarm.
Surveillance photo of Arnold in action
While in route officers were able to confirm the bank had been robbed and the suspect had already left the location.
Witnesses describe the suspect as a white male adult, in his late 50s to early 60s. He was last seen wearing amber-colored glasses and had a gray beard.
The suspect also had on a black hat, black jacket, black tee-shirt and jeans. He was last seen walking out of the bank towards the Home Depot.
Witnesses stated the suspect entered the bank and approached one of the open tellers. The suspect then produced a handgun and demanded money. The teller placed the money in a bag that the suspect was holding. The suspect then approached a second teller and again produced a handgun and demanded more money. After the money was placed in the bag, the suspect left the bank walking towards Home Depot.
After receiving a tip, police were able to locate 54-year-old Johnie Dean Arnold at his home in Bakersfield. Evidence collected linked Arnold to the robbery, as well as to a robbery in Goleta on November 2nd.
He was held in lieu of $250,000 bail.
