FBI Complaint Charges Man with Robbing Escondido Bank
Tips from Public Help Identify Alleged Bank Robber

San Diego FBI Special Agent in Charge Daphne Hearn announces the arrest of David Paul Morris, age 29. Morris was arrested as a result of the investigation into the robbery of the U.S. Bank branch located at 125 North Broadway in Escondido, California, on Tuesday, February 25, 2014.

Morris was arrested on Friday, February 28, 2014, in the vicinity of the 4700 block of Pacific Highway in San Diego, California. Morris was arrested without incident by U.S. Marshals and San Diego County Sheriff’s Department deputies. The deputies were working in coordination with the FBI and Escondido Police Department, who are leading this investigation.

According to the federal complaint filed by an FBI special agent with the U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, case number 14MJ0781, Morris is charged with one count of violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(a), bank robbery. The complaint charges Morris with robbing the U.S. Bank branch located at 125 North Broadway in Escondido, California, on Tuesday, February 25, 2014.

According to the complaint, on Tuesday, February 25, 2014, at approximately 3:28 p.m., the U.S. Bank branch located at 125 North Broadway in Escondido, California, was robbed by an unknown male, subsequently identified as David Paul Morris. At the time of the robbery, Morris allegedly approached the victim teller and stated, “Money. Give me your money. Don’t pull the alarm. I can see your hands.” After obtaining a sum of money, Morris allegedly walked out the bank through the lobby doors and fled in an unknown direction.

On the evening of Tuesday, February 25, 2014, the FBI issued a news release to local television and print media outlets. This same evening, bank robbery surveillance photographs of the U.S. Bank robbery were aired during the 11:00 p.m. broadcast of local television stations.

On February 26, 2014, at approximately 12:00 a.m., 30 minutes after the bank surveillance photographs aired on local television stations, the Escondido Police Department received information from a television news viewer identifying Morris as the unknown male responsible for robbing the U.S. Bank branch at 125 North Broadway in Escondido, California. The FBI also received a similar call identifying Morris as the bank robber.

This information, along with additional investigation conducted by the Escondido Police Department and the FBI, led to federal bank robbery charges being filed against Morris.

Following his arrest on Friday, February 28, 2014, Morris was booked into the Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC), San Diego, California

This bank robbery is being investigated by the Escondido Police Department and the FBI. This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of California.

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.