LAFAYETTE, CALIFORNIA – Police have arrested two suspects accused of robbing a bank in Alamo and attempting another robbery in Lafayette, ending a multi-agency search that briefly put residents on edge near downtown Lafayette earlier this week.
I happened to be eating sushi about a block away when all this went down in Lafayette (Oyama, delicious, more soon). I saw the flurry of police cars, but didn’t know what was going on until later on.
The suspects were identified as Jarmaya Tillman, 23, of Antioch, and Allen Charles Benjamin Foster, 20, of Oakland, according to information released by the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office. Both were booked into the Martinez Detention Facility.
Authorities say Tillman is being held on $200,000 bail, while Foster’s bail is $150,000.
Sheriff’s officials say the incident chain began Tuesday, February 17, when deputies responded at about 2 p.m. to a reported bank robbery on the 3100 block of Danville Boulevard in Alamo. A suspect description and vehicle information were shared with nearby agencies, and Danville police reportedly identified a license plate tied to the vehicle.
Not long after, Lafayette police officers searching for that vehicle witnessed what authorities described as an attempted robbery outside a bank on the 3600 block of Mt. Diablo Boulevard. The suspect ran to a waiting vehicle, which fled toward Lafayette Circle. Police later located the vehicle parked there, unoccupied.
Lafayette officers detained two suspects near East Street, and a search of a backpack reportedly turned up a replica Glock-style firearm.
Officials also said another police department is investigating a similar incident that may have occurred just prior to the Alamo robbery, suggesting the suspects could be linked to activity spanning multiple nearby jurisdictions.
Authorities say both suspects were arrested on suspicion of:
- Robbery
- Attempted robbery
- Conspiracy (two counts)
As in any case, suspects are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Anyone with information can contact the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office Investigation Division at 925-313-2600; tips can also be emailed to tips@so.cccounty.us
or left anonymously at 866-846-3592, according to officials.
We’ll continue to follow the case and provide updates. Make sure you’re on our free 925 News newsletter so we can keep you updated.
