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View Winners → Bank Robbery in Pasadena Linked to Others in the Inland Empire
News Feb 11, 2020
Julia Allegretti presents Queer Clothing Swap at Art Center in Pasadena as part of Euphoria exhibit that features empowerment in the queer, transgender and non-binary communities in Los Angeles. - Photo by Alex Cordero / Beacon Media News
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Suspect was arrested in Long Beach
On Jan. 30 2020, at approximately 2:14 p.m. officers from the Pasadena Police Department responded to the Chase Bank located at 132 E. Colorado Boulevard regarding a bank robbery that had just occurred. The suspect fled the bank prior to the arrival of patrol officers. A search of the area for the suspect was conducted but the suspect was not located. During the robbery, the suspect passed a demand note to the bank teller. The note implied the suspect possessed a gun; however, no weapons were seen. The suspect fled with $3,200 in U.S. currency.
Detectives responded to the crime scene to conduct immediate follow-up. In doing so, detectives located evidence along the path the suspect was believed to have taken to flee.
The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) responded to the crime scene to assist with the investigation. FBI investigators believed the suspect to be one in the same as a bank robber who had previously committed similar robberies in the cities of Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga.
Pasadena Police Detectives collaborated with Ontario Police Department and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department to determine if, in fact, it was the same suspect. All available evidence suggested the same suspect was responsible for the three robberies. Furthermore, detectives learned the suspect was recently identified as 48-year-old Steven Ray Simmons from San Bernardino County.
After learning the suspect’s identity, Pasadena detectives were informed that members of San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department had located Simmons at a motel in the City of Long Beach and on Jan. 31, 2020, he was taken into custody. Evidence linking Simmons to the Pasadena Chase Bank robbery was recovered at the time of his arrest.
Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call Pasadena Police at (626)- 744-4241 or you may report information anonymously by calling “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” mobile app on Google Play or the Apple App Store or by using the website lacrimestoppers.org.
