Photo: Richard Martinez
Fresno Southwest Patrol officers were called to the West America Bank on Tulare Street for a
robbery in progress on June 16, 2020.
Using a note, the suspect communicated with bank staff he was armed with two guns and demanded money.
Negotiators with the Fresno Police Department attempted to communicate with the suspect, allowing him opportunities to surrender.
When a security guard who was inside the bank confronted the suspect, officers rushed into the bank and took him into custody.
The suspect was identified as 40-year old Richard Martinez of Fresno. Martinez suffers from
mental illness and has a history of criminal activity. He was booked into the Fresno County Jail
for attempted robbery. His bail is set at $25,000.
No one was physically injured during the attempted robbery.
Photo from the Fresno Police Department
