WEST HOLLYWOOD—On June 12, deputies from the Los Angeles County West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station announced a suspect was arrested in connection with a robbery that occurred at 1 p.m. at a bank in the 8600 block of Santa Monica Boulevard.
According to WeHo online, it the U.S. Bank branch at 8631 Santa Monica Boulevard in the Rainbow District. A man entered with a weapon and a note, which he showed to a teller, left on foot with money wearing a white shirt under a dark blue jacket, a dark baseball hat, and black glasses. The suspect was apprehended near Holloway Drive and La Cienega Blvd. with a weapon in his possession.
A deputy assigned to the Real-Time Watch Center used a DFR (Drone as First Responder) to track the suspect and a live camera feed to locate him.
According to the booking logs, the suspect was identified as Akira Toriyama, 35, who is unemployed. He is being held at the station without bail for violating section 211 of the California Penal Code, which prohibits robbery of personal property by force or fear.
According to the West Hollywood Sheriff station, the investigation is being conducted by Detective Luna of the Major Crimes Bureau.
The stolen funds were recovered, and no additional details have been released. Anyone with information about the incident should call the station at 310-855-8850. Those wanting to remain anonymous can instead send a tip to Crimestoppers by calling (800) 222-TIPS (8477) or texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S).
By Daniel Diquinzio