Elk Grove Police Arrest Bank Robbery Suspect

So-called "Flannel Guy" nabbed


ELK GROVE , CA – On February 25, 2009 at 4:58 p.m., the Elk Grove Police Department developed information that a wanted parolee, 41-year-old John Sandretto of Citrus Heights, would be at a residence located in the 5500 block of Laguna Park Dr . Officers began a surveillance of the residence and at 5:44 p.m., John Sandretto was taken into custody without incident by members of the Elk Grove Police Department for a felony warrant and narcotic charges.

During the course of the arrest and subsequent investigation, officers developed information that John Sandretto was responsible for the robbery of the Downey Savings & Loan in Elk Grove ( 5000 Laguna Blvd. ) on February 20, 2009. In addition to the Downey Savings & Loan robbery, Sandretto is suspected of being responsible for three other bank robberies: the Union Bank of California at 1850 Douglas Blvd. in Roseville on February 17, 2009; the Washington Mutual Bank at 3601 Fair Oaks Blvd. in Sacramento on February 23, 2009; and the Wells Fargo Bank at 2000 Douglas Boulevard in Roseville on February 25, 2009.

During the bank robberies, Sandretto handed the tellers a note and demanded money. Sandretto had been nicknamed the "Flannel Guy" because of the plaid flannel jacket he wore during the first two robberies.

Anyone with information regarding this crime is asked to call the Elk Grove Police Department Detective Bureau at (916) 478-8060.