Bank Robbery Suspect Arrested At Hospital As Wife Gives Birth After FBI Raids Oakland Home
OAKLAND (CBS SF) -- The arrest of a man at a hospital in Oakland as his wife was giving birth is linked to a bank robbery investigation and FBI raid on the couple's home in the Oakland hills Tuesday.
The FBI, along with Oakland police and Alameda County Sheriff's deputies armed with warrants and search dogs, raided the home on the 2400 block of Stockbridge Dr. at around 6:00 a.m. Tuesday.
A device which appeared to be an explosive prompted bomb squad to come out to the home, and it was determined the device was a hoax, according to FBI spokeswoman Katherine Zackel.
Neighbors on Stockbridge Dr. said the home's resident, 49-year-old Duane Makela, was arrested without incident at a local hospital as his wife was giving birth at about 6:55 a.m. The Alameda County Sheriff's Office confirmed Makela's arrest is part of a larger bank robbery investigation.
Makela's vehicle was also searched. A possible explosive device was located in his car, but it was rendered safe, according to the Orinda Police Department.
49-year-old suspected bank robber Duane Makela is in custody. His criminal history reveals he's served time for bank fraud before, he brought a fake check to a bank in El Cerrito back in '95. Story @KPIXtv at 5 pic.twitter.com/IGvXa2b0y7
— Susie Steimle (@SusieSteimle) April 23, 2019
Makela has been living at the home with his wife and daughter and his parents for the past year. One neighbor said authorities have been called to the home before over disturbances.
"Neighbors have called Child Protective Services. We've been in touch with the police, they come out occasionally, but you know there's been no resolution until possibly today," said neighbor Gigi Reinheimer.
"You could kind of tell there was something brewing," said neighbor Jason Joshan.
Reinheimer said she frequently heard Makela yelling at his family and that his wife would scream for someone to call police in the middle of the night.
"Probably scary for everybody. I mean, there was loud banging on the door at 6 a.m. We thought it was Duane, but I guess it was the FBI, possibly, I mean I don't know for sure," said Reinheimer. "And, I mean, I had no idea it was gonna be this big. We knew things weren't right and we were all a little nervous on this block but, this is beyond."
Makela's father was at the home. He was visibly distraught and didn't want to speak on camera, only saying off camera that it had been a really rough day.
Makela was charged in 2009 with a series of auto crimes including a hit-and-run and receiving stolen property. In 1995, Makela was arrested for forgery after trying to pass a fake check at an El Cerrito bank and later served 16 months in prison.
Makela was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on robbery and drug possession charges and is being held on $150,000 bail.
Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Orinda Police Department at (925) 254-6820. For any tips, call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message or email: tips@so.cccounty.us.