The following information was released by Los Alamitos Police Department (LAPD).
Forty-one-year-old Keith Alonzo Smith Sr., dubbed by the FBI as the $5K bandit, was captured this morning by vigilant Los Alamitos police officers following a robbery of the Los Alamitos US Bank branch located at 10942 Pine St.
Officers were alerted to the robberty at about 9:14 a.m. when an employee of the bank called police stating a man similar in appearance to a knife-wielding suspect who had committed three prior robberies at the location erturned to commit a fourth heist.
The bank employee told a West Cities Police Communications dispatcher a havy-set male, African-American in his 40s, wearing a black baseball hat, black sweatshirt, dark sunglasses, and a surgical mask entered the bank carrying a large knife.
The suspect displayed the knife to the teller while demanding money.
The suspect’s clothing was similar to what was worn in prior robberies and it appeared to be the same or similar knife previously used.
Immediately following the robbery, the suspect left the bank on foot in an unknown direction of travel.
Although there was no vehicle description given to police, an alert officer monitoring traffic along the Katella corridor between Los Alamitos Blvd. and the 605 Freeway spoted a person matching the suspect description driving a gray 2009 Dodge Charger at a high rate of speed west on Katella towards the 605 Freeway.
When the officer attempted to pursue the vehicle, Smith, the solo occupant and driver of the car, had already entered the Katella/605 northbound onramp.
While navigating the onramp, Smith lost control of the vehicle, crashing into an embankment of ice plant.
Smith tried to evade th officer on foot, but the officer caught the suspect as he ran through the ice plant.
The officer and suspect engaged in a brief struggle until back-up officers arrived and Smith was safely taken into custody after being Tased by one of the responding officers.
Smith sustained minor abrasions, but was treated and released to police officials at the scene by the Orange County Fire Authority.
The officer also sustained minor abraisions; howver, he did not require medical attention.
It is believed Smith, a Long Beach resident according to his California driver’s license, has committed similar robberies at the bank branch, using a similar M.O. on June 21, 2011; June 30, 2012; and September 12, 2012.
Approximately $5,000 was lost in each of the prior individual robberies.
The loss in this particular incident is unknown; however, officers recovered several bundles of US currency at the arrest scene.
The investigators from the FBI’s Orange County Bank Robbery Apprehension Team will be assisting with the investigation.
Smith is being charged with armed robbery and was booked at Orange County Jail in Santa Ana.
No bank employees were hurt during the crime.
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