Mountain View man robbed bank, fled to Santa Cruz Mountains, police say
The vehicle was found abandoned 12 miles away, on Glenwood Drive near Highway 17.
A Mountain View man has been accused of stealing a car, robbing a bank and running from police.
Fernando Gomez, 24, was arrested Friday afternoon in the Santa Cruz Mountains, about three hours after the robbery of a Wells Fargo Bank on Santa Cruz’s River Street.
The bank robber had fled in a red Mercedes-Benz, which was pursued by Santa Cruz police with assistance from state parks officers. The vehicle was found abandoned 12 miles away, on Glenwood Drive near Highway 17.
Shortly after 5 p.m., Gomez was apprehended off Laurel Road, on the east side of Highway 17. In his possession was more than $9,000 of stolen money, the police said.
The Mercedes had been reported stolen in Mountain View.
Gomez was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail on suspicion of felony robbery, vehicle theft, police evasion and parole violation.