‘Overweight Thief' Arrested in Robbery of La Mesa's Bank of the West

Two weeks ago, La Mesa police and the FBI sought a short, overweight thief in a bank robbery near Grossmont Center.  On Thursday, authorities arrested Cesar Daniel Flores of Imperial Beach—who is 5-feet-4 and 200 pounds, according to his booking information.

Flores, 20, was arrested around 9:40 a.m. Wednesday near the Palomar Trolley Station in Chula Vista and detained by trolley officers for “violation of a code compliance matter,” the FBI said.

He he later was taken into custody by FBI agents thanks to a federal arrest warrant charging Flores with the Feb. 4 robbery of the Bank of the West at 8690 Center Drive in La Mesa, said FBI Special Agent in Charge Keith Slotter.

“A review of bank surveillance photographs and trolley surveillance video assisted in identifying Flores as the bank robber,” Slotter said. “Additionally, an MTS code compliance officer had issued a citation to Flores at the H Street Station in Chula Vista ... the same morning as the robbery.”

According to a complaint filed in federal court, Flores is alleged to have robbed the Bank of the West using a demand note. 

Authorities say Flores entered the Bank of the West at 11:40 a.m. and robbed one of the tellers using a demand note. 

“The demand note stated Flores was armed with a weapon and demanded a certain amount of money,” Slotter said.  

“After receiving a sum of money, Flores placed the money into a black backpack and was last seen walking towards the Grossmont trolley station.”

Flores is  being held at the San Diego Central Jail and is expected to appear before a federal judge Tuesday in a case being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.  His jail information indicates bail had not been set as of 6:15 Thursday night.

Slotter said the investigation was conducted by the La Mesa Police Department, San Diego Metropolitan Transit Service (MTS) and the FBI.