Man Arrested in Connection With OC Bank Robberies

Dennis Adamson was arrested about 11 p.m. Sunday as he was riding a bicycle through Santa Ana with a backpack holding two ski masks and a handgun, according to Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.

"He's been bouncing back and forth between Southern and Northern California," Bertagna said. "He also hit a 7-Eleven and a Shell station up there."

Adamson was booked early Monday on suspicion of two robberies in Santa Ana and two in Costa Mesa, Bertagna said, less than a week after being booked on a narcotics violation in Irvine.

Investigators showed the mug shot from his arrest last Tuesday to robbery victims, who identified him in a photo lineup as the suspect, Bertagna said.

Adamson is also suspected of multiple bank robberies elsewhere in California, the FBI's Laura Eimiller said.

Adamson is also suspected in the robbery of an Independence Bank branch in Fountain Valley Thursday and a credit union robbery in Atascadero in the Central Coast area Aug. 8, Eimiller said.

A victim identified Adamson as the man who allegedly robbed a Mobil gas station at 100 W. MacArthur Blvd. in Santa Ana about 11:45 p.m. on Sept. 22, Bertagna said. He's also accused of robbing a Subway restaurant at 2860 S. Bristol St. about 5:25 p.m. that same day, Bertagna said.

In Costa Mesa, he is accused of robbing a gas station about 5:40 p.m., Sept. 29, at 3067 Bristol St., Costa Mesa police Lt. Greg Scott said. Adamson is also suspected of robbing a 7-Eleven store at 3001 Bristol St. about 8:30 a.m., Thursday, Scott added.

Anyone who believes they were a victim or has other information relevant to the case was asked to call Santa Ana police Detective Cpl. A. Silva at (714) 245-8545, or Costa Mesa Detective Rob Hanson at (714) 754-5162 or Sgt. Ed Everett at (714) 754-5395.

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