Suspect in bank robberies arrested
An East Bay man suspected in a string of Northern California bank robberies was arrested after a highspeed chase on a rural, backcountry road in Lake County, authorities said Monday.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office got word around 8 a. m. Sunday from Clearlake police that Wesley Allen Krohn, a 31- year- old Antioch resident wanted for sticking up a number of banks, was at a home near Glenhaven, a small resort town on the shores of Clear Lake, said Lt. Steve Brooks, a sheriff’s office spokesman.
Keeping in mind that Krohn had reportedly said he would “shoot it out” with police if they ever tried to arrest him, deputies gathered near the home where he was thought to be staying before cautiously attempting to make contact with the suspect, Brooks said.
Sheriff’s deputies saw Krohn driving away from the house westbound on Highway 20, which hugs the eastern shore of the lake. After confirming the car was registered to Krohn, deputies gave chase and the suspect briefly pulled into the parking lot of a business before speeding away, Brooks said.
With both sheriff’s deputies and Clearlake police officers in pursuit, Krohn raced along the two- lane road at speeds in excess of 80 mph, Brooks said. As the chase approached Lakeview Drive, an officer tossed a spike strip onto the road, which successfully popped the tires on Krohn’s car.
A short distance down the road, Krohn stopped in the middle of the highway, got out and tossed a gun from his waistband before authorities took him into custody, Brooks said.
Krohn was taken to Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility, where he was booked on a federal no- bail warrant as well as suspicion of possession of a controlled substance, carrying a concealed weapon, evading a peace officer and committing a felony with a firearm, among other lesser charges, Brooks said.