Police Arrest Suspect in String of Robberies

Police arrested a Reseda man Tuesday in connection with a string of bank hold-ups throughout the San Fernando Valley in which the robber wore a Nike logo baseball cap, Los Angeles police said.

Willis Howard Pride, 31, was arrested without incident Tuesday at his home in Reseda.

Detectives received tips from the public after a photograph of the robber taken by a surveillance camera ran in The Times two weeks ago, said Det. Tom Wich.

“We verified that information, got a federal warrant and arrested him,” Wich said.

Pride is believed linked to a series of 14 bank robberies, Wich said.

The last was committed Friday at a California Federal Bank on Nordhoff Street in North Hills. Officials would not release the total amount taken in the robberies.

Police said the robber would approach a teller’s window carrying a dark checkbook, then hand the teller a note saying, “This is a robbery, give me $100 bills only.”

The man would then shove his hand in his pocket, as if he had a gun.

The string of bank robberies began Oct. 31 at a California Federal Bank in Reseda. The robber hit several banks throughout the north and southwestern part of the Valley.

Pride also is suspected in an attempted robbery of a Wells Fargo branch in Reseda, where he left before getting any money, Wich said.

Police are still searching for a Latino, age 25 to 35, thought to be the driver of an unidentified vehicle used in the robbery of a Bank of America in Canoga Park.