Yesterday, a bank robbery unfolded in the Escondido community. According to the Escondido Police Department, a suspect entered the US Bank on the East Valley Parkway, threatening a teller with a note stating he had a gun and demanding money. The teller complied with the demands, and the masked individual made off with an undisclosed sum.
The event occurred at approximately 10:37 AM, and it wasn't long before the Escondido Police were on the chase. Witnesses reported seeing the suspect flee in a black Toyota Prius. The description of the vehicle set off an urgent search throughout the area. An officer subsequently spotted a similar automobile on the intersection of Rose Street and Valley Parkway, and with additional backup, police executed a high-risk traffic stop on the vehicle.
Police identified the detained driver as 77-year-old Gary Smyers, an Escondido resident, whose car contained the stolen money, the demand note, and the mask used during the robbery. The arrest, which came swiftly after witnesses positively identified Smyers as the bank robber, led to his booking at the Vista Detention Facility on a robbery charge, specifically under the 211 PC code.
With the investigation ongoing and the FBI now involved, the Escondido Police Department is calling on anyone who might have useful information about this incident to make contact. Detective Cory Spinos can be reached at (760) 839-4499 and has asked individuals to reference case 25005152 when providing information.
