On a recent morning in Seal Beach, the calm routine of a Chase Bank was disrupted by a harrowing incident. A man, now identified as Thomas Crampton, 43, of Anaheim, entered the bank at around 9:00 a.m. and upended the day with a demand for money, suggesting that he was armed with a gun. KTLA reports that Crampton threatened to harm the employees if his demands were not met, a tactic that led to his swift acquisition of an undisclosed sum before he fled on foot.
The Seal Beach Police Department's immediate response, bolstered by a coalition force that included Seal Beach Marine Safety Lifeguards, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department bloodhound, and officers from Hawthorne and Torrance, led to Crampton's arrest a mere half-mile from the scene. Seal Beach Police Chief Michael Henderson commented on the arrest, noting, "The swift arrest today highlights the effectiveness of our officers and the importance of regional partnerships in keeping our community safe."
Earlier, before his apprehension, the Seal Beach Police Department had taken to Instagram, urgently requesting the public's assistance in locating the suspect. Their post depicted Crampton, alongside the description of him fleeing the Chase Bank located at 801 PCH, after declaring he had a "gun." Seal Beach Police Department's IG post implored anyone with information to come forward, contributing to a community-driven effort to safeguard Seal Beach.
With the suspect now in custody, authorities are directing their attention to piecing together the events of that fateful morning. Detective Sergeant Jeff Gibson remains the point of contact for information relating to the case.
