Update by the Santa Maria Police Department
November 30, 2023

On Monday, November 27, 2023, at about 8:15 AM, the Community West Bank branch located at 122 E. Betteravia Road was robbed at knifepoint. A suspect armed with a knife forced his way into the bank with employees present prior to normal business hours. The suspect kept the employees inside before he left with an undisclosed amount of money.

Santa Maria Police Department (SMPD) patrol officers quickly arrived on scene, but the suspect had already left the area. SMPD detectives, SMPD crime lab technicians and agents with the Santa Maria FBI Field Office all responded to investigate this robbery.

SMPD detectives took over the investigation.  Detectives located video surveillance that captured the suspect and his vehicle. The suspect was last seen near Conserve Fuel at Bradley and Betteravia about 8:20 AM.

Detectives determined the suspect vehicle was registered to a residence in Sylmar, California that lies in the San Fernando Valley in the northern portion of the City of Los Angeles. Detectives immediately began to collaborate with Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers assigned to the Mission Community Station who were responsible for policing the Sylmar area. The LAPD officers were extremely responsive, and their investigative assistance proved invaluable.

On Wednesday, November 29, 2023, LAPD officers located the suspect vehicle in an area of commerce in Canoga Park, CA. LAPD officers and investigators were able to surveil the vehicle and subsequently detain the driver, 64 year-old Nolberto Reyes Hernandez, of Sylmar, CA. Through a joint investigation with LAPD and SMPD investigators, Hernandez was determined to be the suspect that committed the Community West Bank robbery in Santa Maria on November 27, 2023.

SMPD detectives drove to the LAPD Topnaga Community Police Station in Canoga Park where the suspect and his vehicle were being held. A search warrant was obtained, and FBI personnel from the Los Angeles Field Office assisted SMPD investigators with executing the search warrant that yielded numerous items of evidence connected to the bank robbery. These items included Community West Bank property, personnel property belonging to bank employees/victims and other crucial evidence items.  Detectives also confirmed Hernandez was in the City of Santa Maria when the robbery was committed.

SMPD detectives transported Hernandez back to Santa Maria where he was processed and booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail. Hernadez, a Sylmar resident, was booked on charges for robbery, kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon and false imprisonment. Hernandez is being held on $1 million dollars bail.

The Santa Maria Police Department would like to thank the community, FBI and LAPD for their assistance on this investigation. Anyone with information related to this case is asked to please contact lead SMPD investigator, Ivan Swenson at (805) 928 – 3781 ext. 1648.

Santa Maria Police Search for Bank Robbery Suspect and Vehicle

By the Santa Maria Police Department
November 28, 2023

On Monday, November 27, 2023, at about 8:15 AM, the Community West Bank branch located at 122 E. Betteravia Road was robbed at knifepoint. A suspect armed with a knife forced his way into the bank with employees present prior to normal business hours. The suspect kept the employees inside before he left with an undisclosed amount of money. The employees did not sustain any physical injuries during this incident.

Santa Maria Police Department (SMPD) patrol officers quickly arrived on scene, but the suspect had already fled the area. SMPD detectives, SMPD crime lab technicians and agents with the Santa Maria FBI field office all responded to investigate this robbery.

SMPD detectives have taken over this investigation and are seeking the public’s assistance with identifying and locating the suspect and involved vehicle. Investigators located video surveillance that captured the suspect and his vehicle. The suspect was last seen near Conserve Fuel at Bradley and Betteravia about 8:20 AM.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic male adult, approximately 5′ 8″ with heavy build and is believed to be Spanish speaking. He was wearing blue jeans, brown shoes, a black hooded sweatshirt, and a red and white flannel jacket over the sweatshirt. He was armed with a knife and wearing a surgical mask. The suspect was driving a 2015 Ford F150, gray in color, extended cab, long bed, pickup. The pickup had a black construction style “headache” rack attached to the truck bed, and fixed running boards (see attached images).

The vehicle is believed to be out of the Southern California area. SMPD Detectives are working with the FBI to attempt to locate the suspect and the suspect vehicle.

Anyone with any information including those that may have been by the bank or Betteravia corridor near the time of occurrence are asked to contact SMPD Detective Ivan Swenson at (805) 928 – 3781 ext. 1648 or the SMPD Communications Center at (805) 928 – 3781 ext. 2277.

Case #: SMPD23-0013762