Man in Wheelchair Robs Pasadena Bank, Escapes

A man in a wheelchair handed a teller a note claiming he had a gun, took a few thousand dollars from a South Lake Avenue bank Friday afternoon and got away. Authorities have not yet found him.

The robbery happened about 2:47 p.m. at a First Citizens Bank branch in the 90 block of South Lake Avenue, Pasadena police Lt. Anthony Russo said. The man passed the teller a note saying he was there to rob the bank and had a gun, and kept one hand in his pocket, Russo said. No weapon was seen.

The teller handed over U.S. currency in mixed denominations — a few thousand dollars, by Russo’s estimate, though the exact amount has not been released. The man was last seen heading south on Lake Avenue.  Arriving officers canvassed the area but did not find him.

Russo described the suspect as a Black man between 30 and 40 years old, wearing a black windbreaker and dark pants. Bank surveillance captured the holdup, he said.

Because the man claimed to have a gun, the case is being handled as a felony and may fall under federal jurisdiction, Russo said; the FBI has been notified. No one was hurt, and the investigation is continuing.

Anyone with information can call the Pasadena Police Department at (626) 744-4241 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.