Suspected bank robbers caught after chase

Sue Doyle

COSTA MESA -- Three men allegedly robbed an Irvine credit union

Tuesday and led authorities on a chase that eventually ended behind a

hotel near South Coast Plaza.

The Irvine Police Department did not release the suspects’ names. All

three were arrested on a charge of suspicion of bank robbery and are

temporarily being held in Costa Mesa Jail. Authorities did not have any

further information about the suspects.

Police said the three men allegedly held up the American Electronics

Assn. Credit Union, at 4520 Barranca Parkway, around 3:30 p.m.

Police said the suspects left the credit union in a sport-utility

vehicle and headed north on the San Diego Freeway. Irvine police caught

up with the suspects, who exited the freeway at Bristol Street.

The suspects’ vehicle later jumped a curb at Sunflower Avenue and

Avenue of the Arts, puncturing a tire, but the chase continued, police

said.

The vehicle finally stopped behind the Wyndham Garden Hotel. All three

men attempted to escape on foot, but were caught by authorities, police

said.