Suspect in recent bank robbery held

A Costa Mesa man was arrested Thursday afternoon on suspicion of trying to rob a local bank earlier in the week.

About 3 p.m. police spotted Kenneth Lee Masoner, 40, near Newport Boulevard and 21st Street in Costa Mesa. Authorities had identified him through past booking photos as their suspect in an attempted robbery Tuesday morning at Chase Bank on 17th Street.

Police said Masoner demanded cash from a bank teller and threatened her with a gun, though it’s not clear whether he was armed.

Thursday afternoon, detectives from Costa Mesa’s Special Enforcement Detail and gang unit spotted Masoner and approached him, Lt. Paul Dondero said in a news release.

Masoner ran away but was quickly caught, Dondero said.

Masoner was booked on suspicion of robbery and on an outstanding warrant for battery on a police officer. He is in custody without bail.

— Joseph Serna