SOLANA BEACH (CNS) - A man was arrested Thursday after entering a North County bank, telling everyone inside to get on the floor, announcing that he was robbing the premises and directing workers to make a 911 call to report the crime-in-process.
The odd robbery scare at the Wells Fargo branch office in the 200 block of Santa Helena in Solana Beach began just after 9 a.m., according to sheriff's officials.
The perpetrator -- a thin, roughly 6-foot man who appeared to be in his 30s, wearing a black hooded jacket with the cowl pulled up over his head -- entered the bank minutes after it opened and promptly made his series of demands, Lt. Karla Menzies said. He issued no threats of violence and displayed no weapons during the takeover, the lieutenant said.
When deputies arrived a short time later, they found the self-described robber inside with his hands in the air, Menzies said. The man, whose name was not immediately available, surrendered without incident and was taken to Vista Detention Center to be booked on suspicion of attempted robbery.
The motivation for the suspect's actions was unclear.
``(Deputies) think that there were some mental-health issues (involved),'' Menzies said.
