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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A Los Angeles man who barricaded himself in his car after he allegedly attempted to rob a bank in Koreatown has a detention hearing set for May 11.
Oscar Canales, 24, was charged with attempted bank robbery in a criminal complaint filed last month in Los Angeles federal court, according to FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller. Canales allegedly entered the Bank of Hope in the 2700 block of W. Olympic Boulevard at about 1:30 p.m. on April 13. Dressed in a dark suit, Canales is alleged to have verbally demanded money from two tellers. According to witnesses, he reached into his waistband as if to grab a weapon, Eimiller said.
When Los Angeles Police Department officers 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, federal prosecutors allege. 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 SWAT team was called and nearby residents were evacuated as a precaution. Investigators are continuing to determine whether Canales may be responsible for other bank robberies or attempted bank robberies. Canales had an initial appearance in downtown Los Angeles on Friday and was remanded to federal custody. A detention hearing was set for May 11 with arraignment scheduled for May 18.