(l-r) Robert Alan Peters; Video frame from the Umpqua Bank in Grants Pass, Oregon during robbery in which a handgun was fired, allegedly by Robert Alan Peters of Frazier Park, according to Grants Pass Department of Public Safety.
A CalNeva Cable employee was surprised to see what he described as “an FBI raid” being deployed at a house on San Carlos Trail in Frazier Park early Thursday, March 26.
Sgt. Mark Brown of the Frazier Park Substation confirmed to The Mountain Enterprise that a special operations task force of Kern County Sheriff’s deputies was attempting to arrest Robert Allen Peters, 45 of Frazier Park.
Peters was arrested in Castaic later that day for allegedly robbing an Umpqua Bank branch in Grants Pass, Oregon on January 18, 2008.
Oregon officials released video images of a man they allege to be Peters, who they say entered the bank at 2:13 p.m., pulled a handgun, fired a shot into the ceiling and demanded money, then fled on foot, “with an undisclosed amount of U.S. currency.” Oregon Department of Public Safety reports say no one was injured in the robbery.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies from the Santa Clarita station and the California State Parole Department’s Bakersfield office also helped Oregon detectives to arrest Peters at 27580 Violin Canyon Road in Castaic without incident. Peters was booked at the Kern County Jail for the warrant charging him with the Grants Pass robbery.
Peters is remembered by some as being active with a local softball league several years ago.
Kern County Sheriff’s Department (KCSD) watch commander Lt. Bart Camps said KCSD deputies are often sworn as federal officers for “special ops” assignments. He said deputies may have been wearing FBI vests or jackets during the March 26 action.
—Reported by The Mountain Enterprise staff. Joe Whitelock assisted with this report.
This is part of the April 03, 2009 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.
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