Bank suspect detained in Wheatland
In the early hours of Sept. 25, the small agrarian town of Wheatland located in the vast orchards of the Sacramento River Valley was in for a surprise.
According to Wheatland Police Department, local authorities wielding an arrest warrant surrounded a two story house in a family-oriented neighborhood.
Eric Donato Avalos-Guevara, 24 was wanted for the Umpqua Bank robbery in the city of Chico.
A year prior on Sept. 30 around 11 a.m, a man wearing a baseball cap, dark-hooded sweatshirt and sunglasses walked into the Umpqua Bank at 1540 Esplanade.
He then approached the counter and handed a long and detailed note to the teller demanding money.
The teller handed over the undisclosed amount of bills to the man and with money in hand, the suspect then walked outside and headed east.
Police have not yet provided a number on the amount of dollars demanded by the suspect.
After meeting with bank staff , Chico PD identified the description of a light-skinned Hispanic male around 5 foot 8 inches tall with a stocky build. Police have not yet provided a number on the amount of dollars demanded by the suspect.
Law enforcement had no luck finding the suspect for over a year until a report from the F.B.I Laboratory revealed new findings in the case.
"Robbing a bank is a federal offense, so of course the FBI is going to get involved," said Sergent Scott Harris of the Chico Police Department.
"Robbing a bank is a federal offense, so of course the FBI is going to get involved," said Sergent Scott Harris of the Chico Police Department.
The collaborative investigation led to the arrest of Wheatland native Eric Donato Avalos-Guevara, 24 by Wheatland Police Department at 1 a.m. on Sept 25.
Guevara spent three days in the Yuba County Jail where he awaited to be transoported to the Butte County Jail to be booked for robbery accomplished with means of force or fear.
One year later, Guevara remains in the Butte County Jail awaiting trial. By Mathew Manfreti