Santa Cruz Mountains Being Searched for Escaped Bank Robber Who Took Unmarked Cop Car

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA - Santa Clara County sheriff's deputies are searching the Santa Cruz Mountains this afternoon for a man who robbed a bank in Scotts Valley on Thursday, Jan. 26 and then fled north on state Highway 17, sheriff's officials said.

Officials said around 2:30 p.m. Friday that the man had stolen a 2009 silver Chevrolet Malibu, California license plate No. 3QWI051, from the Redwood Estates area in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where deputies have been searching for him since Thursday morning.

Search efforts have been focused around the rural community of Redwood Estates, near the Lexington Reservoir.

The armed man robbed the Bank of America branch at 4525 Scotts Valley Drive and then fled north in a stolen white Chrysler shortly before 10 a.m. on Thursday, according to Scotts Valley police Lt. John Wilson.

Wilson said that "a lot" of officers went to the scene and caught up to the Chrysler at Scotts Valley Drive and Granite Creek Road, where they began a pursuit onto Highway 17.

Within 10 minutes of the robbery, the suspect got out of the Chrysler on northbound Highway 17 near Madrone Drive and fled on foot.

It was at this time that a Scotts Valley police officer shot at the man, but it was not clear whether he was hit, according to Santa Clara County sheriff's officials.

The suspect was seen overnight in the area of Aldercroft Heights and Locust Drive, sheriff's officials said around 2 a.m. today.

The man was described as Hispanic with a thin build and groomed facial hair. He stands about 5 foot 9 inches tall and was wearing a black jacket, dark jeans and a black mask at the time of the robbery.

At 11:16 a.m. Thursday, locals were told to avoid the area or shelter in place. Highway 17 was closed in both directions until after 8 p.m. Thursday, according to sheriff's officials.

Bay City News contributed to this report/Image via Shutterstock