SAN MARCOS–An 81 year-old man Friday was arrested and charged with bank robbery, investigators say.
Sheriff’s department detectives say Michael Lehman robbed Chase Bank located at 1921 West San Marcos Boulevard.
Lehman allegedly placed a black box on the teller’s counter and presented the teller with a note demanding money. The note stated he had a gun and a bomb. The man brandished a handgun and the teller gave the man an undisclosed amount of cash. He walked out of the bank and drove away in a silver sedan. A bank employee was able to obtain a partial license plate number of the suspect’s vehicle, according to detectives.
A Carlsbad police officer observed a vehicle matching the description of the suspect’s vehicle on Palomar Airport Road. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver was identified as Lehman. He was positively identified as the robber by witnesses and was taken into custody. The Sheriff’s Bomb Arson Unit was called to evaluate the bomb device. It was determined that the black box was not a bomb.
There were no reports of injuries related to this incident. San Marcos detectives are continuing the on-going investigation.
