Los Angeles – A Los Angeles man who barricaded himself in his vehicle after he allegedly attempted to rob a bank in Koreatown earlier this month was charged federally with attempted bank robbery.
Oscar Rene Canales, 24, of Los Angeles, was transferred from local custody to federal custody last Friday after being charged in a criminal complaint filed in United States District Court.
According to the complaint, Canales entered the Bank of Hope located on the 2700 block of West Olympic Blvd at approximately 1:30pm on April 13. Dressed in a dark suit, Canales is alleged to have verbally demanded money from two tellers. According to witnesses, Canales threatened to have a gun and reached into his waistband as if to grab a gun.
When officers with the Los Angeles Police Department responded to the bank, Canales was holding a knife in one hand and appeared to be holding another object in his other hand as he threatened to have a bomb. Almost an hour later, Canales fled the bank on foot and barricaded himself in his vehicle for several hours before officers safely removed him. During the standoff, a Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T.) Team was called in to assist and nearby residents were evacuated as a precaution.
Investigators are continuing to determine whether Canales may be responsible for any other bank robberies or attempted bank robberies.
Canales had an initial appearance in United States District Court on Friday, April 28, and was remanded to federal custody. The presiding judge scheduled a continuance of his detention hearing for May 11th.
This arrest and continuing investigation is the result of a joint effort by the FBI and the Los Angeles Police Department.
