Bank robbery suspect arrested

Police say Petaluma bank robber had previous encounters with law enforcement.|
ROBERT DIGITALE
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Petaluma police officials said that officers recognized and on Saturday arrested a man who was photographed by security cameras Friday and is suspected of robbing a Wells Fargo Bank branch on North McDowell Street.

Stephen Robert Williams, 31, of Petaluma, has had “a lot” of encounters with the city’s police force, Sgt. Ron Klein said.

While not detailing the previous interactions, Klein said Williams “was known by our officers.” Also, witnesses to the robbery identified Williams as the suspect, he said.

Williams was arrested Saturday morning as he left his house on Coronado Drive. He was booked into the Sonoma County Jail, where he remained Saturday afternoon with bail set at $50,000.

The robbery occurred shortly after 2:30 p.m. Friday at the Wells Fargo branch at 800 N. McDowell Blvd. The robber passed a note to a teller, received an undisclosed amount of cash and fled on foot.

Police declined to say whether any of the stolen cash was found Saturday in Williams’ possession.

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