MURRIETA – Murrieta Police officers arrested two men after they allegedly worked together in an attempt to rob a Wells Fargo Bank Saturday, Aug. 6. The bank is located at 28007 Scott Road in Murrieta, at the intersection of Antelope Road in the Murrieta Heritage Market Place.
The two men were taken into custody by Murrieta Police officers with assistance from Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies. The officers and deputies conducted a felony stop on the suspect’s vehicle as they were preparing to leave the area, according to Murrieta Police Lieutenant Tony Conrad.
The two men were identified as Thomas Jerome Burke IV, 24, of Murrieta and Brandon Eugene Tyler, a 19-year-old transient. After an investigation, Murrieta Police officers arrested both men for charges related to the attempted bank robbery and other charges.
The incident began at about 2:57 p.m. when the Murrieta Police Communications Center received a 911 call regarding a possible robbery in progress at the bank. The caller told dispatchers that a man, who was later identified as Tyler, had passed a note to a teller demanding money.
“After several minutes, Tyler left the bank empty handed,” Conrad said.
A witness provided Murrieta dispatchers with a thorough description of the suspect as well as a description of the vehicle he was seen getting into.
Several Murrieta Police officers and Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the location while Tyler and his accomplice were preparing to leave the shopping center where the bank is located.
As officers and deputies were arriving at the bank parking lot, they saw Tyler and a second suspect, later identified as Burke, in the vehicle the witness had described to dispatchers.
Officials conducted a high-risk felony stop on the vehicle. Tyler and Burke were both detained without incident.
During their investigation, officers interviewed witnesses from the bank who positively identified Tyler as the person who had passed the note demanding money from the bank teller. Officers also recovered the demand note Tyler had passed to the bank teller.
Officers also discovered Burke was in possession of prescription narcotics for sale.
Officers conducted records checks on both subjects that revealed Burke has an extensive criminal history and is currently on parole for a previous robbery.
Both men were later booked into the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta.
A jail record search revealed Tyler was booked on suspicion of attempted robbery and second-degree burglary. He is being held in lieu of $30,000 bail.
Burke was booked on suspicion of accessory to commit robbery, driving under the influence, possession of a controlled substance for sales, and violation of parole. Burke is being held without bail.
Both alleged suspects are scheduled to be arraigned at the Southwest Justice Center Aug. 10.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Murrieta Police officials at (951) 304-2677. Callers can refer to incident file number 1608M-1203 and can remain anonymous.
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