The Willow Glen Resident

Men linked to rash of local bank robberies are arrested

By Rebecca Wallace

Two Cupertino men linked to a recent rash of South Bay and Peninsula bank robberies, including one in Willow Glen in February, have been arrested and arraigned in Santa Clara County Municipal Court.

Jason Edward Gomes, 22, and Jeremy Allen Riker, 20, were booked into Santa Clara County Jail and charged with 11 counts of robbery, said San Jose Police Sgt. Derek Edwards.

Gomes was first arrested April 17 by Burlingame police after reportedly committing a robbery at California Savings in that city about two hours before, Edwards said. He then was released on bail. San Jose police investigators, learning of Gomes' arrest, noticed that he matched the description of a suspect from some unsolved San Jose robberies and focused their investigation on him. San Jose police arrested Gomes on April 23.

After the investigation led to Riker's arrest on April 24, Riker admitted to committing all 11 robberies and told police Gomes was the driver on the majority of the robberies.

Police say the string of crimes began Nov. 17, 1997, with the robbery of Downey Savings and Loan in Cupertino and included the Feb. 19 robbery of Bank of America at 1245 Lincoln Ave.

Both Gomes and Riker attended De Anza College, and neither has a prior arrest record, Edwards said.

Anyone with information on this investigation should call San Jose Police Robbery Det. Sgt. Mike Ponte at 277-4166.

[ Back to Contents Page | Willow Glen Resident Home Page | Archives ]