Property crimes detectives with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office have arrested 36 year old Ignacio Lopez of Fresno.
He has been booked into the Fresno County Jail on 18 felony charges. Some of which include: Three counts of armed robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Lopez also had an outstanding warrant for spousal abuse. His bail is set at $710,000.
In the last two weeks, detectives received numerous anonymous tips through Valley Crime Stoppers, which identified Ignacio Lopez as being the primary suspect in a recent bank robbery. This occurred around 10:30 am on July 9th at WestAmerica Bank, located at 5751 S. Elm Ave. in Easton. A man walked into the bank and pointed a handgun at employees, telling them to give him money. The man made verbal threats of violence. The teller gave the suspect cash and he quickly fled the branch.
On July 21st, detectives made a traffic stop on a vehicle where Lopez was riding as a passenger in the area of Kings Canyon and Clovis Ave. in Fresno. He was placed under arrest. Deputies searched his car and found a loaded, stolen handgun. This revolver matches the description of the gun used in the recent bank robbery.
Detectives took robbery reports at this same bank location on January 23, 2019 and September 22, 2015. They noticed striking similarities between the suspect involved in all three cases and later determined it to be the same man, Ignacio Lopez.
Detectives believe other people may have aided Lopez in committing these robberies. They are asking for the public’s help if they have any information to assist them in their investigation. Contact Detective Patrick Beggs at (559) 600-8390. You may also contact Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-7867 or www.valleycrimestoppers.org You will remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.
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