Manhunt Underway For Suspect Linked to String of Bank Robberies

Police are on the hunt for a man who may be connected to a string of recent bank robberies across northern California, according to Santa Rosa Press Democrat.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office obtained a warrant for the arrest of Joshua James Metoxen, 23, of American Canyon. He’s suspected of robbing banks in San Mateo, Sonoma, Lake and Marin counties, and is a suspect in six unsolved bank robberies in Marin and San Mateo counties, the Press Democrat reports. 

Specifically, the warrant is for the suspected robberies of Westamerica Bank in Middletown on Feb. 27, and Tri Counties Bank in Middletown on March 7.

This comes on the heels of a recent robbery on Wednesday of the Westamerica Bank in Strawberry Village in Mill Valley. The Marin County Sheriff’s Office released a security footage photo of the suspect, saying he appeared to be the same man who robbed banks in Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, and Novato.

On March 13 at 3:17 p.m., a man walked into the Mill Valley branch on 1222 Redwood Hwy, handed a teller a note, and walked out with an undisclosed amount of money, Sheriff's Lt. Jamie Scardina said.

He was last seen getting into a mid 2000s tan Honda heading south on Redwood Highway. He is described as a white man in his late 20s with a large build and sporting facial hair below his bottom lip. He was wearing a black sweatshirt, tan shorts, a red and black SanFrancisco 49ers hat and sunglasses.

The warrant describes Metoxen, 23, as 5'11", weighing 250 lbs., and having black hair and hazel eyes.

The Mill Valley robbery was the fourth time a Westamerica Bank branch in Marin has been robbed in 2013.

On Jan. 4, a,  and fled on foot after receiving cash, according to San Rafael Police spokeswoman Margo Rohrbacher. No weapon was seen or mentioned in that incident.

Less than a week later on Jan. 10, the Westamerica branch in Novato's Ignacio area was robbed of an undisclosed amount of money and the suspect fled on foot. No one was hurt and no weapon was used, Novato police Lt. Jennifer Welch said at the time.

And on Jan. 25, a man walked in to the Westamerica Bank at 1 Mitchell Blvd. in North San Rafael, demanded money from the bank teller and then fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash, according to San Rafael Police Sgt. Roy Leon.

Multiple agencies are on the lookout for Metoxen, and Lake County deputies say he is considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached, the Press Democrat reports.

Metoxen was by the Napa County Sheriff's Office after the Napa Valley Crime Stoppers listed him as a fugitive wanted for a felony probation violation and possession of a controlled substance.

Anyone with any information should call the Lake County Sheriff's Office at (707) 263-2690 or the Marin County Sheriff's Office at (415) 479-2311, or Bay Area Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS to remain anonymous.

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