Month: January 2021

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The FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force and Denver Police Departments Need Your Help Identifying a Bank Robber

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

The FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force and Denver Police Departments need your help identifying a bank robber. The banks where the robberies occurred are:

BBVA Bank
800 North Broadway
Denver, Colorado
10/23/2020, 4:42 p.m.

Vectra Bank
401 Speer Blvd.
Denver, Colorado
10/15/2020

The suspect was described as a white male, 35 to 40 years old, approximately 6’0” in height, with a slim build and dark hair. The suspect wore a black zip-up hooded sweatshirt with a green and white logo, grey sweatpants, a baseball hat with a yellow smiley face, glasses, and a white face mask.

During the robberies the suspect entered the bank, approached the teller, presented a note, threatened to harm the teller, and then fled the banks on foot.

Please be on the lookout for anyone matching the suspect’s description. Be aware of anyone similar who might have recently changed their spending habits or discussed coming into money suddenly.

Bank robbery is punishable by up to a 20-year prison sentence for each offense and increases if a dangerous weapon is used in the commission of the crime.

The FBI continues to provide financial institutions with the best practices for security to make them less vulnerable to robberies.

If anyone has any information on the bank robbery above, or any bank robbery, please call the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force at 303-629-7171; or, you can remain anonymous and earn up to two thousand dollars ($2,000) by calling CRIMESTOPPERS at 720-913-STOP (7867).

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FBI San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Craig Fair’s Remarks on the Michaela Garecht Investigation

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

My name is Craig Fair, Special Agent in Charge of San Francisco Division of the FBI.

First and foremost, I want to express my deepest condolences to Michaela’s family, who have been mourning her loss for so many years without closure or justice. I cannot imagine the pain you have gone through for the last 32 years, but I hope justice in this case can bring you a measure of peace. On behalf of all of the men and women of the FBI who have dedicated long hours to assist the Hayward Police Department with this investigation, I assure you that our thoughts have remained with your family, for many years. We are so sorry for your unimaginable loss.

On behalf of the FBI, I want to recognize the hard work of the Hayward Police Department and the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office on this case. The FBI was proud to work beside the Hayward Police Department for 32 years, providing any assistance necessary as they led this investigation. Over the years, we have provided agents to assist Hayward PD with interviews. Our Evidence Response Team and FBI Laboratory have assisted our partners in the processing and examination of evidence. Our professional support staff provided Hayward PD with a case management system and spent long hours manually entering every lead that Hayward PD received. We have stood by Hayward PD and supported them for more than three decades over the course of this investigation, because there is no case that deserves our attention and support more than the tragic disappearance of a child.

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FBI San Francisco Offers $50,000 Reward in Church Arson

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

The FBI, SFPD, and SFFD are Seeking Information on the Arson at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church

SAN FRANCISCO—The San Francisco Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the San Francisco Police Department, and the San Francisco Fire Department are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the individual(s) responsible for an arson that occurred at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church in San Francisco. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for this arson.

“This act of violence was not just an attack on a building, but on a congregation. This was an attack on a community,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig Fair. “We are counting on assistance from members of the community to keep our city safe. Every lead will be thoroughly investigated. Regardless of how insignificant you think your information might be, we strongly encourage you to come forward and we welcome your information and assistance.”

On September 17, 2020, at approximately 4:15 a.m., an unidentified arsonist set fire to the church’s administration building, which housed offices, a library, and a Sunday school. The building sustained significant fire, smoke, and water damage. No injuries were reported.

On July 24, 2020, hateful graffiti was discovered at San Francisco’s KZV Armenian School. On September 19, 2020, gun shots were fired at the school. At this time, the FBI does not know if these incidents are related to the arson at St. Gregory. We urge the public to come forward if you have any information on any of these incidents.

The FBI takes all acts or threats of violence seriously and is committed to investigating crimes that are potentially hate-motivated. The FBI has jurisdiction to investigate fires set at houses of worship under the Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996.

If you have any information, please contact the FBI San Francisco Division at (415) 553-7400 or tips.fbi.gov. Tips can remain anonymous. You can also contact the San Francisco Police Department’s Anonymous Tip Line at (415) 575-4444, or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD, which guarantees the callers’ anonymity.

*For media inquiries, please contact the FBI San Francisco Media Office at media.sf@fbi.gov*

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Statement by FBI Special Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner on Potential Violence in San Diego and Imperial Counties

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

The FBI’s San Diego Field Office, leading the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) and working with all of our other local, state, and federal partners, is preparing for any potential violent activity related to the recent unrest in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere.

Given the unrest at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, we are maintaining a heightened posture to monitor for any emerging threats to our area of responsibility and throughout the country. We are focused on identifying, investigating, and disrupting individuals who were involved in the siege of the U.S. Capitol and/or those who may continue to incite violence and engage in criminal activity here locally and throughout the United States.

To that end, FBI San Diego is running a command post to gather intelligence and coordinate with our law enforcement partners on potential threats. We also have special agents, bomb technicians, the FBI Evidence Response Team, tactical teams, intelligence teams, and others to support investigations and counter any potential threat of violence to federal buildings, and our shared community.

We need the public’s help to protect our community and the rights of peaceful protesters. We are urging people in San Diego and Imperial Counties to call us at 1-(800)-CALL-FBI or go to tips.fbi.gov to submit information regarding any potential violence at any upcoming protest or event. If you know of an immediate emergency, call 911.

We cannot be successful without the help of the American people as we work to fulfill our mission: To protect the American people and uphold the U.S. Constitution.

In San Diego, news releases, public service announcements, and educational resources can be found by following the FBI on twitter at @FBISanDiego or our website: fbi.gov/sandiego.

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La Mesa Bank Robber Arrested, Charged as a Result of Cross Agency Law Enforcement Collaboration

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

SAN DIEGO—The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) San Diego Violent Crimes Task Force, La Mesa Police Department, and the San Diego Police Department have made an arrest of the individual believed to be responsible for a bank robbery committed in La Mesa, California.

On December 28, 2020, at approximately 1:10 p.m., a man robbed the Bank of the West, located at 8690 Center Drive La Mesa, California. The man approached the teller and produced a threatening note demanding money. After receiving money from the teller, the robber fled on foot.

Shortly after the robbery, San Diego Police Department officers arrested Matthew Clive Handy, 31, of San Diego, on unrelated charges. Due to the strong partnerships between law enforcement agencies and effective communication between the agencies related to unsolved bank robberies, a SDPD officer recognized Handy as the bank robbery suspect and contacted investigators with the FBI and La Mesa Police Department. FBI Agents and La Mesa detectives continued their investigation and gathered additional evidence, which it provided to the San Diego County District Attorney.

Due to these collaborative efforts by San Diego law enforcement, Handy has been charged with first degree robbery. If convicted, Handy faces up to 17 years in prison. His arraignment on the bank robbery charges is currently scheduled for January 8.