Bank Robbery Suspect Arrested in Lake Forest After Multi-City Pursuit

A suspected Santa Ana bank robber was arrested Tuesday in Lake Forest after Santa Ana police chased him down the freeway through Irvine and into town.

Fernando Vera Santamaria, 27, of Corona, allegedly robbed a Bank of America on 2800 North Main St. in Santa Ana shortly before 6 p.m., according to Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.

A teller told police that a man entered the bank and presented her with a note demanding cash.

"She complied and the suspect fled," Bertagna said.

Officers searching for the suspect spotted a suspicious vehicle about eight miles south of the robbed bank, at Bristol Street and Paularino Avenue in Costa Mesa, Bertagna said.

Police stopped the car, but Santamaria reportedly then fled in the vehicle, leading officers on a chase down the 405 Freeway.

Irvine police joined the chase when he exited the freeway in their city, deploying spike strips that flattened two tires on Santamaria's vehicle.

He entered Lake Forest via Rockfield Boulevard and tried to make a U-turn at Lake Forest Drive but collided with a Santa Ana police vehicle, police said.

Orange County Sheriff's deputies assisted with traffic control at the scene of the collision and arrest in Lake Forest.

Santamaria was jailed Tuesday evening on suspicion of robbery, Bertagna said.

Bertagna said investigators do not believe Santamaria is connected to any other bank robberies in Santa Ana. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is looking into whether he is connected to robberies in other cities.