Officials arrest Indio man connected with 2 Palm Desert bank robberies
UPDATED: Friday, June 21, 12:13 p.m.
See Original Story below.
PALM DESERT — Sheriff’s officials announced the arrest of a man they say was responsible for at least two recent bank robberies that happened in Palm Desert this month. The robberies happened just three days and four miles apart; and occurred at Rabobank, on the 41900 block of Cook St., on June 14th; and Pacific Premier Bank, on the 78000 block of Fred Waring Dr., on June 17th
Another bank robbery that happened on the 42000 block of Bob Hope Drive, in the city of Rancho Mirage on Monday June 10 is still under investigation.
Sheriff’s officials say Christopher Franco was responsible for two recent Palm Desert bank robberies. RSO photos
During their investigation, officials developed leads and gathered information that ultimately led them to identifying Christopher Franco, 43, of Indio, as a suspect of two of the three robberies.
On Wednesday, June 19, at about 8:30 p.m., investigators and deputies from the Palm Desert and Thermal Sheriff’s Stations arrested Franco in the 83500 block of Indio Blvd., Indio. He was later booked into the Riverside County Jail.
No additional suspects are sought in connection with these robberies, however the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station asks anyone with information regarding the incident to contact Investigator Jose Munoz at (760) 836-1600. Callers can refer to incident file numbers T191650048 and/or T191680087 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.
See Original Story: Officials investigating Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage bank robberies
PALM DESERT — Officials are investigating two Palm Desert bank robberies that happened just three days and four miles apart over the last week. Officials say the two robberies, which happened Friday, June 14 and Monday, June 17, could be related and have asked for citizen’s help identifying the suspect or suspects involved. A third bank robbery – the first one reported – could also be related and happened in Rancho Mirage, Monday, June 10. All three banks are conveniently located near Hwy 111 and I-10 passes near the three locations as well.
LEADING THE RCNS HEADLINES:
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The first robbery happened at a business in the 42000 block of Bob Hope Drive, in the city of Rancho Mirage at 9:06 a.m., and the second robbery happened in the 41900 block of Cook St. at 11:34 a.m., Riverside Sheriff’s Media Information Bureau spokesman Deputy Mike Vasquez later reported. The most recent robbery happened in the 78000 block of Fred Waring Dr. at 4:41 p.m.
In all three cases, deputies arrived at the scene within minutes of the dispatched calls and conducted “widespread searches” of the areas, but did not locate the alleged suspect, who was later described as a Caucasian or Hispanic male adult.
The suspect of the first robbery was further described as wearing dark clothing and a dark cover over his face, while the suspect of the second robbery was described as wearing an orange jumpsuit and wide brimmed straw hat, standing between 5’6” and 5’8” and weighing between 180 – 200 pounds.
After the third robbery, the suspect was further described as wearing a black hat, dark colored jacket or sweater, a white t-shirt, and blue jeans. He was approximately 5-foot-8, with a medium to average build. He was also believed to be between 30-40 years old and was wearing eye glasses during the incident.
During their subsequent investigations, deputies learned that in both cases the robbery suspect or suspects “entered the business, demanded money, and fled the location with an undisclosed amount of cash prior to deputies’ arrival, ” Vasquez explained.
No citizens or bank staff were injured during either incident, according to MIB officials, who later told RCNS, “The Palm Desert Investigations unit is not ruling out the possibility of the robberies being related, but the investigation is ongoing and active.”
Anyone with information regarding these investigation is encouraged to contact Palm Desert investigators at (760) 836-1600. Callers can refer to incident file numbers T191650048 and/or T191680087 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.
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