Intellectually Diminished “Bank Robber” Released
By Terry Miller
Published: Saturday, January 30th, 2010
Joshua Locateil is now a free man after a strange set of circumstances led the mentally disabled individual into the spotlight after a supposed bank robbery attempt in Monrovia.
Sierra Madre resident Joshua Locateil, 24, was arrested last Wednesday and charged with attempted robbery after a four hour stand-off with police at Citizens Business Bank on the corner on Myrtle and Huntington Wednesday afternoon, according to Capt. Jim Hunt of the Monrovia Police Department. Locateil was in custody at the Monrovia Police station.
The story continued to get stranger by the minute as information came to light. This was apparently not a typical bank robbery by any stretch of the imagination.
Locateil had allegedly entered the bank around 9.55 AM and placed a note demanding money. The bank was evacuated. The contents of that note have not been disclosed. After surrendering, Locateil was ordered to strip down to ensure there was no device attached to his body.
After his arrest, a robotic device used by the bomb squad was called in according to Capt. Hunt and clothing and a waist pack were determined to be clear and no device was found.
Monrovia P.D.’s Watch Commander, Lt. Mike Lee said that the suspect appeared to be somewhat “limited” intellectually. It appeared to many at the scene that the suspect might have some mental retardation.
According to Monrovia Public Information Officer Dick Singer no bomb was found in the suspect’s backpack or in the preliminary search of the facility. As of 5 p.m. on Wednesday, no explosive devise had been found. Detectives discussed the case with officials at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office in Pasadena on Friday morning, and prosecutors decided not to charge the 24-year-old man, police Capt. Jim Hunt said.
Police released the Sierra Madre man, Locateil, from custody late Thursday night, city spokesman Dick Singer said.
At 9.55 am Wednesday, a man entered the lobby of the bank’s office building and slipped a note under a locked door. The note threatened he would ignite a bomb if the staff did not give him money according to the Monrovia PIO Dick Singer.
Those actions resulted in a standoff that lasted four hours, and led to police closing Myrtle Avenue from Huntington Drive to the 210 Freeway.
While in custody, the man told police he was picked up by a stranger at a day labor center in Sierra Madre to do some painting.
The story Locatiel gave authorities is that a stranger gave him a note and said… tell them they need to put the money in this bag and come see me. This was apparently after he was picked up for day labor in or near Sierra Madre’s Memorial Park where day laborers congregate.
Police continue trying to find the person(s) responsible for this bizarre set of circumstances.
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