Pasadena Bank Robbery Fails When Bandit Gets Cold Feet, Flees

A robbery at a Chase bank on the corner of East Colorado Boulevard and Arroyo Parkway failed Tuesday when the bandit got nervous and fled — only to be arrested a short time later by keen-eyed police officers around 5:35 p.m.

Lt. Kelly Evans said the man entered the bank and passed a note to a teller demanding cash and saying that he was armed with a gun.

As he waited for the teller to hand over the money, Evans said, the suspect became increasingly nervous and suddenly bolted from the bank.

Responding officers scoured the vicinity armed with the suspect’s description and located a man in Central Park who fit the report. A field identification with bank personnel resulted in the arrest of John Celaya, 55, of Baldwin Park on suspicion of attempted robbery, Evans said.

Celaya was not in possession of a firearm when he was taken into custody, Evans said.