Suspect In Palm Desert Bank Robberies Arrested In OC

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — A man suspected of recently robbing two Palm Desert banks was arrested Tuesday in Anaheim.

Reese Mitchel Westenberger, 59, of Anaheim was taken into custody in the 20 block of W. Beacon Avenue, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Westenberger was identified as the robber in a July 11 bank heist in the 73000 block of Highway 111, the department stated. In that 12:21 p.m. incident, an unarmed Westenberger entered the bank and approached a teller at the counter, demanding money.

After receiving an undisclosed amount of money, Westenberger ran from the bank in an unknown direction, according to the agency.

Westenberger was also linked to a June 24 bank robbery in the block of Highway 111, which is under an ongoing investigation, sheriff's officials said. Further details about that incident were not released.

Westenberger was booked into Banning's Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility on suspicion of two counts of second-degree robbery, jail records show. The records show he was a parolee at the time of the alleged heists. No bail has been set for him.

Anyone with information regarding the robberies was urged to call Investigator Villasenor of the Palm Desert Sheriff's Station at 760-836-1600.