Update...

Bank of the West Bank Robbery Suspect Arrested Overnight

Clovis Police arrested 38-year-old Michael Zavala of Clovis at an apartment complex in the 55 block of West Bullard shortly after 11 p.m. last night for the robbery of the Bank of the West branch on Shaw near Minnewawa yesterday morning at 9:07 a.m. Clovis Police received a tip following television newscasts at 5 o’clock last night.

Following up on that tip, detectives went to the apartment complex later in the evening. They briefly detained a man who put a bag of clothing, matching the description of what Zavala was wearing yesterday, into the garbage. Right afterward, Zavala returned to his apartment where detectives arrested him. Officers then served a search warrant at Zavala’s apartment. He was booked for robbery and for three misdemeanor bench warrants. His bail is set at $135,000.00. Clovis Police recovered some, but not all of the money from the robbery.

We thank our local media for the coverage on this case, which led to Zavala’s arrest.

News Release Date:  2/1/12
Contact:  Janet Stoll-Lee, Public Information Officer   (559) 324-2447
 
Man Robs Bank of the West in Clovis this Morning

Clovis Police received a phone call to report a robbery at the Bank of the West branch at 200 Shaw Avenue (between Minnewawa and DeWitt on the south side of Shaw) at 9:07 this morning. A bank employee told officers that a man showed a note demanding money. The employee gave the man an undisclosed amount of cash, and he left. No one saw a weapon and no one was hurt. Witnesses saw the suspect walk toward the back of the bank’s parking lot.

Clovis Police and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Eagle One helicopter combed the area looking for the suspect, but have not yet found him. The suspect is described as Hispanic, 5’6”, early 30s with a light moustache. Witnesses say he was wearing a brown zip-up sweatshirt jacket over an orange shirt, tan colored pants and sunglasses.

If you have any information about the suspect or his whereabouts, you’re urged to call Clovis Police at 324-2800 or CrimeStoppers at 498-STOP.