Suspects in Attempted Bank Robbery Are Identified

A Murrieta Police officer orders one of two suspects to surrender following an attempted bank robbery on Saturday. Photo by Steve Clark

Story has been updated with identity of the suspects and additional details:

The Murrieta Police Department today released the identity of the two suspects in an attempted robbery of the Wells Fargo Bank at Antelope Road and Scott Road on Saturday.

Brandon Tyler, 19 and a transient, and Thomas Burke 24, of Murrieta were arrested after being apprehended by Murrieta police in their vehicle in the same shopping center where the attempted robbery occurred. The incident occurred about 3 p.m. Riverside County Sheriff's Department deputies serving Menifee assisted.

According to a news release, the Murrieta Police Department received a call from the bank regarding a possible robbery in progress. The caller said a man had passed a note to a teller demanding money. After several minutes, the robbery suspect left the bank empty-handed, police said.

Acting on a description of the suspect and vehicle provided by a witness, responding officers saw the suspect vehicle attempting to leave the area. Officers conducted a felony stop and detained the suspects. Witnesses identified Tyler as the man who had passed the note demanding money and the note was recovered.

Tyler was arrested for attempted robbery. Burke was arrested for parole violation and accessory to the robbery.

Steve Clark said he was having lunch in the Tavern Grille, located across the parking lot from the bank, when multiple police cars pulled up and surrounded a vehicle. He said about a dozen patrons of the restaurant watched through the front window as officers with guns drawn quickly got the suspects to surrender.

Another witness, Erin Mills, also said she saw two white males in a vehicle just before police arrived.

Photo by Steve Clark

Photo by Erin Mills