Ventura Man Is Arrested as Bank Robbery Suspect

VENTURA — A Ventura man, suspected in the January robbery of a Great Western Savings Bank in Malibu, was arrested Friday when two citizens tackled him after he allegedly tried to rob the same institution.

Gordon D. Gleason, 41, was charged with a felony count of bank robbery after allegedly attempting to steal an unspecified amount of money from the bank at 29211 Heathercliff Road, according to Lt. Ken Fowler of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Sheriff’s deputies and FBI agents are investigating whether an accomplice was involved in Friday’s robbery attempt.

Fowler said Gleason, allegedly wearing a fake wig and beard, entered the bank at 3:25 p.m. and was instantly recognized by a bank manager and teller as the individual who wore the same disguise during the January robbery.

While the employees called security, Gleason allegedly showed a different teller a note demanding money, Fowler said.

“He did not display a weapon,” said Fowler.

The teller handed Gleason an unspecified amount of money, according to Fowler.

Buried in the cash was a dye pack, a harmless programmed devise which bursts, covering a suspect with dye for identification purposes.

It burst as Gleason was fleeing the scene on a bicycle, but the suspect kept pedaling away, Fowler said.

A security guard who arrived at the bank just as Gleason was leaving began to chase him, according to Fowler.

Two citizens joined in the pursuit, he said, and later tackled Gleason on his bike about a block from the bank, detaining him until sheriff’s deputies arrived.

The money, wig, beard and bicycle were recovered by deputies, Fowler said.

Gleason was transported to Columbia Los Robles Hospital in Thousand Oaks where he was treated for a minor head injury, and released into the custody of sheriff’s deputies, Fowler said.

Authorities want to know if the driver of a large red Chevrolet pickup truck speeding out of the parking lot when the chase began is Gleason’s alleged accomplice.