2/6/2010 - Bank robbery suspect arrested in Long Beach

Redlands Police arrested a suspected bank robber in Long Beach Saturday morning, a day after a man held up the Chase Bank in downtown Redlands.

The robber approached a teller at the bank at 4 W. Redlands Blvd. on the corner of Redlands Boulevard and Orange Street shortly before 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 5, told her he had a gun and demanded money. No gun was seen. The robber escaped on foot with several thousand dollars cash.

Using cell phone technology, investigators were able to instantly transmit bank surveillance photos of the suspect to department personnel and other agencies. Working with the FBI, investigators quickly identified the suspect as 43-year-old Daniel Earl Watson, of Redlands.

Through additional investigation and surveillance, Redlands investigators obtained a description of Watson’s vehicle, which they distributed to other agencies. Several hours later, Long Beach Police located the vehicle at a motel in the 400 block of Pacific Coast Highway and contacted Redlands Police.

Officers from the RPD’s Multiple Enforcement Team traveled to Long Beach and set up surveillance on the vehicle. At 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, police served a search warrant at the motel where they located Watson along with clothing matching the description of those worn during the robbery and several thousand dollars in cash.

Watson was arrested without further incident and transported back to Redlands. He will be charged with bank robbery.