A homeless man suspected of robbing a bank at Grossmont Center Thursday while pretending to have a gun was arrested a short time later after fleeing to a nearby restaurant.
Sergio Hernandez, 30, allegedly confronted a teller at the Wells Fargo branch in the 5500 block of Grossmont Center Drive and demanded cash shortly before 3 p.m., according to La Mesa police.
Hernandez, who allegedly simulating “that he had a firearm” while carrying out the holdup, fled with an undisclosed amount of stolen money, Lt. Katy Lynch said.
As police fanned out in the area in search of the robber, an officer spotted Hernandez walking into a mall restaurant, followed him inside and took him into custody without incident.
“The money taken during the robbery was recovered, and no weapon was located,” Lynch said.
Hernandez, a transient known to frequent North County communities, was booked into San Diego Central Jail on suspicion of robbery, according to Lynch.
– City News Service
