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SANTA ROSA — Sheriff’s Detectives have identified the suspect in an armed bank robbery which occurred in November of 2016.
The suspect, 28-year-old transient Cesar Garcia Arista, walked into the Exchange Bank at Sebastopol and Dutton and demanded money at gunpoint.
The teller handed over an undisclosed amount, as well as a security dye pack which exploded shortly after Arista fled.
The Sheriff’s Office notes in a press release that he “was last seen running through a parking lot on the 500 block of Sebastopol Road towards the Joe Radota bike trail.” Detectives searched the area and found a discarded beanie and bandana, which were sent to the State Department of Justic Forensics Laboratory for DNA analysis.
On June 6th of this year, detectives were notified of a positive DNA match to Arista, who happened to already be in custody in Southern California for an armed carjacking in San Bernardino County.
Arista, who has a lengthy criminal background throughout California, is currently under investigation for two other armed bank robberies.
Detectives have secured a $2,000,000 warrant for his arrest and he is due to be transported to Sonoma County for trial upon the conclusion of his legal proceedings in Southern California.
