A man suspected of being the “Rolled Sleeves Bandit,” who authorities say robbed seven banks, including three in Orange County, was in federal custody in Los Angeles on Friday.
Damian Loren Newhart, 38, of Newport Beach, was arrested following a tip Thursday from someone who saw a published report about the search for the Rolled Sleeves Bandit and recognized the suspect.
Newhart is only accused of robbing a Citibank branch at 1505 Montana Ave., Santa Monica, on Jan. 14, according to an FBI criminal complaint.
Newhart told a teller in the morning stickup that his girlfriend had a business account and wanted to know more about cashier’s checks and money orders, according to the FBI complaint.
Then the Rolled Sleeves Bandit put a piece of paper on the counter that threatened he had a gun and that he wanted 20s, 50s, and 100s in the next 30 seconds, the FBI alleged.
The teller handed over $3,880 before activating an alarm as the robber fled with the loot, according to the FBI.
Santa Monica police conducting surveillance at a Newhart Dental Center at 3516 W. Imperial Highway in Inglewood, saw the suspect and arrested him about 4:45 p.m. Thursday.
The Rolled Sleeves Bandit also is suspected of robbing a OneWest Bank branch, 1100 Pacific Coast Highway, Hermosa Beach, of $1,674, on Nov. 14; a Citibank branch at 20981 Magnolia St., Huntington Beach, on Dec. 6, of about $3,013; a Citibank branch at 2710 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Beach, on Dec. 22, of about $7,149; a OneWest branch at 1630 Montana Ave., Santa Monica, on Jan. 26, of about $1,310; a Bank of the West branch, 19006 Brookhurst St., Huntington Beach, on Wednesday of about $1,066; and a U.S. Bank branch at 19900 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach, on Wednesday, of about $3,000.
