Two San Diego Men Arrested Following Armed Robbery of La Mesa Credit Union

The FBI is announcing the arrests of Dominique Dontae Lasker, age 26, and Davon Jacques Darden, age 23, of San Diego, California. Both men were arrested as a result of the investigation into the robbery of the California Coast Credit Union, 8002 La Mesa Boulevard, La Mesa, California, on Saturday, October 30, 2010.

On Saturday, October 30, 2010, at approximately 2:00 p.m., the California Coast Credit Union, located at 8002 La Mesa Boulevard, La Mesa, California, was robbed by two unknown masked men. At the time of the robbery, the suspects entered the credit union wearing masks and one of them armed with a handgun. The men jumped over the teller counter and robbed multiple tellers at gunpoint. The money was placed into a backpack one of the men was carrying. After receiving a sum of money from the tellers, the men jumped back over the counter and exited the bank.

A witness reported seeing a black Chevrolet Monte Carlo leaving the area at a high rate of speed. Shortly after the credit union robbery, an FBI Evidence Response Team (ERT) responded to the credit union to identify and collect items of evidentiary value in support of the investigation

Shortly after the credit union robbery, a Sergeant with the San Diego Police Department located the suspect vehicle in the 4600 block of Mataro Drive, San Diego. According to the San Diego Police Department (SDPD), the Sergeant attempted to stop a male subsequently identified as Davon Jacques Darden who was walking away from the vehicle. The suspect fled behind Clay Elementary School. Another responding SDPD officer located the suspect at the intersection of Catherine Avenue and Stanley Avenue. The suspect then jumped a fence on the southwest corner, with the officer in pursuit. As he leaned over the fence, the officer ordered the suspect to stop and place his hands in the air. The suspect complied, then turned and reached for his waistband. Fearing the suspect was reaching for a handgun, the officer fired several rounds at the suspect. The suspect then jumped over another fence and disappeared into the neighborhood.

After a meticulous search of the area by the SDPD SWAT Team and Canine Units the suspect was found hiding inside a garage in the 6300 block of Stanley Avenue at approximately 5:45 p.m. The suspect was not struck by the officer’s rounds. The officer-involved shooting is being investigated by the SDPD Homicide Unit.

La Mesa Police detectives and FBI agents took custody of Darden from SDPD as part of the La Mesa credit union robbery.

During the early morning hours of Sunday, October 31, 2010, Dominique Dontae Lasker voluntarily agreed to meet with detectives and FBI agents concerning the credit union robbery at SDPD Headquarters. During the course of this meeting Lasker was taken into custody as part of the credit union robbery investigation.

Davon Jacques Darden and Dominique Dontae Lasker are currently being held at the San Diego County Jail. Both men are expected to be booked into the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) on Monday, November 1, 2010. Both men are expected to appear before a U.S. Magistrate Judge, on Monday, November 1, 2010, or Tuesday, November 2, 2010.

Investigation in this matter is being conducted by the La Mesa Police Department, the SDPD, and the FBI. The prosecution of Darden and Lasker will be handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Anyone with information concerning the credit union robbery is asked to contact the FBI at telephone number (858) 565-1255, or CrimeStoppers at (888) 580-8477.

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.