Nov
16
SANTA BARBARA, CA – 11/15/2007. A suspect is in custody after committing brazen day-time robberies at two downtown banks. He is identified as Donald Kevin Romanik, age 50, a longtime local resident who was released from prison four days ago. His short crime spree began at 12:04 p.m. at the busy Bank of America branch at 834 State Street. Reportedly, Romanik entered the bank, waited in line, and confronted a female teller. He claimed to have a gun and announced a robbery. He obtained an undisclosed amount of cash before fleeing out the back door toward Canon Perdido Street. Included with the cash was a dye pack that deployed seconds after he left the bank. Witnesses reported hearing a “pop” and seeing a cloud of red dye as Romanik ran across the street into City Parking Lot 9, adjacent to the Lobero Theater. Witnesses provided Romanik’s description including that he was now splattered with red dye. Sergeant John Corre happened to be downtown when the call was received and dispatched. He approached City Lot 9 on foot from the State Street side. A Borders Bookstore employee told him the suspect had just run through the parking lot toward Anacapa Street. This was corroborated by a wispy trail of dye pack residue suspended in the air. Sergeant Corre followed the escape route to Anacapa Street. As he reached the rear of Santa Barbara Bank and Trust at 20 E. Carrillo Street, Sergeant Corre heard a second loud ‘pop’ sound. He saw Romanik running across Carrillo Street in a cloud of red dye. Romanik was chased down in the parking lot of Rabobank, 33 E. Carrillo Street and arrested without incident. As it turned out, Romanik had just robbed Santa Barbara Bank and Trust at 20 E. Carrillo Street while Sergeant Corre was in the parking lot searching for him. This second robbery occurred at 12:10 p.m. Reportedly, after committing the BofA robbery, Romanik went into SBB&T, confronted a female teller, claimed to have a gun, and demanded cash. In a repeat of the BofA robbery, Romanik obtained an undisclosed amount of cash that included a dye pack. The “pop” sound and cloud of red dye observed by Sergeant Corre was the second dye pack deploying seconds after the SBB&T robbery. These robbery cases are being handled jointly with the Ventura FBI office. Romanik’s photo is not being released at this time pending further investigation. Romanik was arrested for two counts of bank robbery and parole violation.
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