Sheriff's Deputy Arrests Bank of the West Bank Robber

The FBI and San Diego Sheriff’s Department are announcing the arrest of Christoff Arthur Michael Lerczak, age 36, following the robbery of the Bank of the West located at 9832 Campo Road, Spring Valley, California, on Thursday, November 4, 2010 at approximately 10:23 a.m.

On Friday, November 5, 2010, a complaint was filed within the United States District Court, Southern District of California, San Diego, California, charging Christoff Arthur Michael Lerczak on one count of bank robbery. The complaint alleges that Lerczak was responsible for robbing the Bank of the West, 9832 Campo Road, Spring Valley, California, on November 4, 2010.

According to the complaint, on Thursday, November 4, 2010, at approximately 10:23 a.m., an unknown male robbed a teller at the Bank of the West, 9832 Campo Road, Spring Valley, California, using a demand note. The demand note was written on plain white paper. After the victim teller read the note, the robber took the note and placed the note into his left shirt pocket. The note stated, “This is a robbery.” After receiving a sum of money the robber exited the bank.

Approximately two hours later, at 12:23 p.m., a San Diego County sheriff’s deputy working in a marked patrol vehicle was patrolling the parking lot area of the Shadow Point Apartments, 9830 Dale Avenue, Spring Valley. The deputy was patrolling the area in an effort to locate the bank robber. The deputy subsequently observed a white male later identified as Christoff Lerczak and approached him. During the contact, Lerczak provided consent for the deputy to retrieve Lerczak’s wallet from his pants pocket, which contained a large amount of cash. Based on Lerczak’s appearance and similar description to the Bank of the West robber, the deputy detained Lerczak.

Based on additional investigation conducted by other sheriff’s deputies and FBI agents, Lerczak was arrested for robbing the Bank of the West. According to the complaint, Lerczak confessed to robbing the Bank of the West, 9832 Campo Road, Spring Valley, California, on Thursday, November 4, 2010. Lerczak is currently being held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center.

An arrest itself is not evidence that the defendant committed crimes charged. The defendant is presumed innocent until the government meets its burden in court of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.