Gunman Robs Solano Avenue Bank, Suspect Nabbed in Cab with Cash, Gun

Thanks to a sharp-eyed witness, a masked man who robbed the CitiBank on Solano Avenue with a handgun late this afternoon was quickly captured as he tried to flee in a taxi, Albany police said.

According to police, the man had with him cash and a handgun when officers stopped the cab to investigate.

Albany police identified the man late Friday as Martin Ross, 32, of Hercules.

An armed robber held up the bank at 1377 Solano Ave. about 5 p.m., said police Lt. Daniel Adams. Officers responding to the July 2 robbery were flagged down by a witness who reported seeing "a suspicious person run from the bank," Adams said.

The witness said the suspect removed clothing and got into a taxi. The witness also gave a description to police of the suspect and vehicle.

Officers stopped a cab matching that description at Ashbury and Fairmont avenues in El Cerrito, Adams said. The passenger – later identified as Ross – matched the description of the robber and had cash and a handgun "consistent with the robbery," Adams said. He was taken into custody without resisting.

Ross was arrested on suspicion of weapons possession and bank robbery. The amount of cash taken and recovered was not disclosed.

It was the second robbery at the Citibank branch in the past 16 days, and the second time police quickly arrested a suspect. A robber held up the bank about 3:30 p.m. on June 16 and was soon captured by police who spotted a man matching the robber's description, Adams said.

The suspect in the earlier robbery, Christopher Purcell, 22, of Berkeley, is being held on suspicion of armed robbery, Adams said. Police today restored the cash taken in that robbery – $11,250 – to Citibank, Adams said.

Today was a bad day for robbing banks. Albany police had extra officers on duty in case of public disturbances following a verdict in the trial of former BART police officer Johannes Mehserle, who faces a murder charge for fatally shooting Oscar Grant in Oakland on New Year's Day in 2009. The Los Angeles jury adjourned today without reaching a verdict and is scheduled to resume deliberations Tuesday.