Press Releases
Release Date/Time: 12/27/2012 9:54 PM Officers responded to a bank robbery at the Bank of America, Northridge Mall. William Jones (49) was armed with a pressurized bottle filled with a flammable liquid and propane torch and sprayed fire around the bank three to four times sending patrons running out of the building. The flames were said to be at least 4' in length. Witnesses chased Jones out of the bank and across the street toward FoodMaxx. Witnesses saw Jones get into a blue Ford Ranger, which fled E/B on Boronda Rd. Officers spotted the truck at Natividad and Arcadia and as they started a high-risk stop, Jones took off, leading officers on a high-speed pursuit that concluded at Virginia Roca Barton School. Jones ran and the foot chase ended after Jones jumped into a drainage ditch that was full of water. Four officers eventually subdued Jones after an extended struggle, which included two Taser deployments. No cash was taken and Jones was ID'd by witnesses. The only injury was to a disabled girl in a wheelchair after her father tried to push her out the doors of the bank to escape. The doors closed on her hand and broke one of her fingers. Investigation revealed that Jones may be responsible for as many as 5 armed robberies committed locally from December 15 to December 27. He was booked into Monterey County Jail on numerous felony charges. Release Authorized by: Sheldon Bryan |
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