PASADENA, Calif.—On Jan. 30, at approximately 2:14 p.m., Pasadena police officers responded to the Chase Bank located at 132 E. Colorado Blvd. regarding a bank robbery that had just occurred. The suspect fled the bank prior to the arrival of patrol officers. A search of the area for the suspect was conducted, but the suspect was not located. During the robbery, the suspect passed a demand note to the bank teller. The note implied the suspect possessed a gun; however, no weapons were seen. The suspect fled with $3,200.
Detectives responded to the crime scene to conduct immediate follow-up. Detectives located evidence along the path the suspect was believed to have taken to flee. The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) responded to the crime scene to assist with the investigation. FBI investigators believe the suspect to be the same bank robber who had previously committed similar robberies in the cities of Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga.
Pasadena police detectives collaborated with Ontario Police Department and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department to determine if, in fact, it was the same suspect. All available evidence suggests the same suspect is responsible for the three robberies. Detectives learned the suspect was recently identified as 48-year-old male Steven Ray Simmons from San Bernardino County.
After learning the suspect’s identity, Pasadena police detectives were informed that members of San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department had located Simmons at a motel in the city of Long Beach, and he was taken into custody on Jan. 31. Evidence linking Simmons to the Pasadena Chase Bank robbery was recovered at the time of his arrest.
Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call Pasadena Police Department at (626) 744-4241. To report information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477); download the P3 Tips mobile app on Google Play or the App Store; or submit tips on their website, lacrimestoppers.org.
Stay connected to the City of Pasadena! Visit us online at www.cityofpasadena.net; follow us on Twitter at @PasadenaGov, and Instagram and Facebook at @CityOfPasadena; or call the Citizen Service Center, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday at (626) 744-7311.