CARLSBAD–An alleged bank robber who led authorities on a vehicle pursuit through north county was arrested after his vehicle crashed on Highway 76 near Bonsall, Carlsbad police said Monday.
The suspect, identified as 33-year-old Timothy Allen Bliss, was booked into the Vista Jail on one count of robbery and commercial burglary, along with additional charges related to the pursuit. Bliss claimed to be transient.
Authorities say just after 11 a.m., Carlsbad police responded to a report of a robbery which had just occurred at U.S. Bank, located in the 7700 block of El Camino Real. The victim reported that a white male adult had presented a note demanding money. The suspect, described as having a distinctive tattoo on his neck and wearing a gray hoodie, was seen fleeing in a white Ford Explorer.
Later that afternoon, California Highway Patrol became involved in the pursuit of a white Ford Explorer in the area of Highway 76 and Highway 395. The pursuit terminated when the suspect crashed and was taken into custody. A witness who saw the vehicle flee the bank robbery also saw news coverage of the CHP pursuit. The individual called Carlsbad police and stated he believed the Explorer was the same one he had seen flee the robbery.
Investigators conducted a records check of the registered owner and saw the owner had a distinctive tattoo on his neck as described by the bank teller. A search of the suspect’s Explorer resulted in the seizure of evidence related to the robbery.