Snowboarder Bandit Accused Of Robbing 2 Coachella Valley Banks
RIVERSIDE (CBS) — A Riverside man already accused of robbing a series of Southern California banks, was re-arrested on charges of robbing two Coachella Valley banks, a sheriff's spokesman said Saturday.
Deputies arrested Snowboarder Bandit suspect Michael Brandon Franks, 29, at about 2 p.m. Friday in a vehicle at Brockton and Tequesquite avenues near his Riverside home, said sheriff's Deputy Angel Ramos.
Franks was nicknamed Snowboarder Bandit because of his youthful appearance and the knit hat and ski clothes he wore while allegedly committing the robberies. He's now also accused of robbing a First California Bank in Palm Desert on May 4 and a Chase Bank in Rancho Mirage on April 11, Ramos said.
Franks was previously arrested May 4, but only on charges of robbing banks in Orange County. He was out on bail when he was arrested again on Friday, according to Ramos.
(©2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)