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‘Salt and Pepper Bandit’ caught |
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Monday, 23 February 2009 |
A California man accused of robbing 17 banks in his home state in two months allegedly began his crime spree in Bryant, authorities said.
Brian Keith Robinson, 49, dubbed the “Salt and Pepper Bandit” because of his graying hair, was arrested at a Los Angeles residence on Wednesday. He originally was listed with a Little Rock address, Bryant police said.
The crime spree began on Dec. 30 when Robinson allegedly robbed the US Bank at 100 Commerce Drive in Bryant. A bank teller told police that Robinson handed over a note that read, “empty both drawers, no bait,” before fleeing with an undisclosed amount of money.
Robinson then fled the bank toward the nearby Burger King with the money and note. He was later spotted leaving in a light blue, two door car traveling in an unknown direction. According to Sgt. Harold Edmonson, Robinson is on federal parole for a previous bank robbery.
Bryant police soon learned that Robinson fled to California and robbed 17 banks in January and February. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department also said Robin-son is also accused of robbing two separate Popeye’s Chicken and Biscuits restaurants.
According to the FBI, Robinson robbed two banks on the same day on numerous occasions during that time period. He allegedly last robbed the First Federal Bank Beverlywood on Feb. 6, which he also robbed previous Monday.
A tip from the Seal Beach Police Department in California after a Jan. 10 bank robbery first lead FBI agents to Robinson’s arrest. California police said Robin-son often threatened to shoot the bank tellers if they did not comply with his demands for cash.
Bryant police said on Friday that charges from the Dec. 30 bank robbery would be moved to federal charges and would likely not be extradited to Arkansas.
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Razorbacks
