2014 Stockton bank robbery
On July 16, 2014, an armed bank robbery resulted in the four perpetrators taking three hostages and leading members of the Stockton Police Department (SPD) on an hour long high speed pursuit. Over the course of the car chase, one suspect fired over 100 rounds from an AK-47s at police disabling 14 police vehicles including a Lenco BearCat and more than 30 officers shot over 600 rounds into the getaway vehicle. Two perpetrators were killed, two hostages were injured, one hostage was killed by police ammunition, and numerous vehicles and other property were damaged or destroyed by the nearly 1,000 rounds of ammunition fired by the robbers and police.[1]
| 2014 Stockton bank robbery | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Stockton, California, U.S. |
| Date | July 16, 2014 2:00 p.m. – 3:18 p.m. (UTC-8) |
| Target | A branch of Bank of the West |
Attack type | Bank robbery, shootout, hostage, car chase |
| Weapons | One AK-47, three handguns |
| Deaths | 3 (including two perpetrators) |
| Injured | 2 |
| Perpetrators | Alex Martinez Jaime Ramos Gilbert Renteria Pablo Ruvalcaba |
Events
Prior to the robbery
Shortly after 2 p.m., Misty Holt-Singh went to a branch of the Bank of the West to use the ATM, accompanied by her 12-year-old daughter, Mia. She went to the branch in the northern part of the city, located at 7810 Thornton Rd. While Mia waited in the car, a dark four door Buick, driven by Pablo Ruvalcaba dropped off Jaime Ramos, Gilbert Renteria, and Alex Martinez.[2] The suspects were believed to be a part of the Norteños street gang,[3]. As Misty Holt-Singh turned to leave the ATM, one of the suspects grabbed her and dragged her into the bank. Driver Pablo Ruvalcaba then left the scene in the Buick while the three other individuals entered. This was already an unusual day for this branch of the bank as it was the branch's last day of business before closing for good.
Robbery
Branch manager Kelley Huber immediately recognized the trio from a robbery months earlier. One of the suspects, who had robbed the bank previously, looked at Huber and ordered that she open the vault. The suspect filled a backpack with cash from the values.
Aftermath
Bank of the West
The branch located at 7810 Thornton Rd in Stockton would close. The location is now a Starbucks.
Police force
Stockton Police Chief Eric Jones began immediate transparent dialogue with the officers involved and press covering the story, making it clear that it was in fact SPD bullets that took Holt-Singh's life.
In the following days many officers had to fill in for the 33 who discharged their weapons and were put on administrative leave stretching the already thin police force even thinner.
Representatives for all three hostage's filled intents to sue the City of Stockton for the actions of the police officers.[4]
Suspects
Gilbert Renteria and Alex Martinez were found deceased at the scene. Investigators had been gathering information and intelligence on both Renteria and Martinez in the years prior to the robbery. The two were part of a known group who were selling methamphetamine in Stockton. A complaint filed in November 2008, names both Renteria and Martinez and other defendants for possession of a controlled substance for sale, possession of marijuana for sale, marijuana cultivation and street terrorism. Stockton police say they are confident Martinez had robbed that same Bank of the West branch on Jan. 31, 2014. Investigators have reviewed surveillance footage from both incidents and spoken to witnesses who provided physical descriptions. In both robberies, someone dropped off the robbers. The men were armed, had similar disguises and left in employee vehicles, police said.[5]
Jaime Ramos was taken into custody at the scene and was charged with three counts of murder and 22 counts of attempted murder of police. He used hostage Misty Holt-Singh to shield himself from SPD. In 2016 he pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty and was sentenced to life in prison.
Pablo Ruvalcaba (21) was announced as a person of interest and turned himself in on September 16 but was released the same day. On December 22, he was arrested by federal agents without incident in Merced. He was charged with aiding and abetting and in 2016 received a sentence of 25 years to life.[6]
References
- BELL, DEVON. "A POLICE FOUNDATION CRITICAL INCIDENT REVIEW OF THE STOCKTON POLICE RESPONSE TO THE BANK OF THE WEST ROBBERY AND HOSTAGE-TAKING" (PDF).
- "4th suspect in deadly Stockton robbery, shootout arrested".
- RODRIGUEZ-MOORE, JENNIE. "Slain suspects have long criminal history".
- Phillips, Roger. "Third hostage in Bank of the West robbery speaks".
- "Slain suspects have long criminal history".
- MCDONALD, IAN. "4th Suspect Arrested in Stockton Bank Robbery, Chase".