Employees help foil attempted bank robbery in Anaheim

ANAHEIM, Calif. (KABC) -- Quick thinking by bank employees helped to foil an attempted bank robbery in Anaheim on Monday, according to authorities.

Anaheim police said they received a call at about 9 a.m. from inside the Wells Fargo bank in the 1600 block of Raymond Avenue.

"Employees advised that a subject had come in demanding money," Sgt. Daron Wyatt with the Anaheim Police Department said. "They locked themselves in the vault and a closet in the rear."

Authorities said the employees were able to relay information to officers while watching the suspect on security cameras.

Dozens of officers quickly moved in, surrounding the building and locking down the surrounding offices. The suspect barricaded himself inside for about 45 minutes before coming outside.

At police orders, the man put his hands up and dropped to the ground outside the bank as officers with guns drawn surrounded him.

The suspect, identified by police as 22-year-old Pablo Arteaga of Anaheim, was handcuffed and put in the back of a patrol car.

While in the vehicle, Arteaga, who police said did not have a weapon on him, was seen screaming at officers and ABC7 cameras.

"Is there narcotics use, alcohol, some kind of mental health issue? It's really too early to tell at this point," Wyatt said.

As officers cleared the building and began investigating with the FBI, people who work nearby were released and relieved to see things ended peacefully.

"Glad it's over, it was just something that I hope I never come across again. It was scary, a little bit," Elliot Vargas, who works next door to the bank, said.

Arteaga was booked for commercial burglary and robbery. He was held on $50,000 bail.