Melinda Rogers
The Salt Lake Tribune
CALIFORNIA — A California man police believe is responsible for robbing 17 banks, including one in Utah, was arrested Thursday.
Arthur Eli Cheney of Napa, Calif., 64, was arrested by a California Highway Patrol trooper on suspicion of robbery, said Sgt. Victor Quezada of the Sandy Police Department.
Cheney is suspected or robbing a Zions Bank at 125 W. 10600 South three months ago in Sandy, Quezada said. He wasn’t sure how much cash was taken during the robbery.
The California Highway Patrol spotted Cheney’s 2002 Silver Mercedes, which matched the description of a car used in 16 California bank robberies and the Sandy robbery. A CHP spokesman said after taking Cheney into custody, officers found a note in his car with a handwritten message that read “Robbery - 100s and 50s only,” the Associated Press reported.
The FBI notified the Sandy Police Department of Cheney’s arrest on Thursday, Quezada said. He said it’s doubtful Cheney will be extradited back to Utah given his potential charges for the California robberies.
Copyright 2007 The Salt Lake Tribune