Staff Reports

Johnson, inside the Corona bank during the robbery. (Photo Courtesy: Corona Police Department)

Corona – On Wed., Feb. 4, the Pacific Premier Bank, located at 102 E. Sixth Street, was involved in a robbery with a man, who reportedly forced employees at gunpoint into the vault where he proceeded to rob the bank and its employees of a large sum of cash.  The man threatened to kill the employees if they called the Police.

According to the Corona Police Department, Officers responded to the bank at approximately 4:07 p.m., to find the suspect had fled after an alleged carjacking.  Through the use of a tracking device bank employees were able to place with the money, Officers were quickly able to locate the suspect vehicle and a chase ensued.

Patricia Cheree Smith, the driver and accomplice, who lied about being carjacked (Photo Courtesy: Corona Police Department)

As the Officers attempted a high risk enforcement stop, the vehicle briefly stopped near San Antonio and Bickmore avenues in Chino.  The female driver – later identified as Patricia Cheree Smith, 26, of Hemet – exited the vehicle and was contacted by Police. The suspect fled the area in the vehicle with Officers in pursuit.

Smith initially told Officers she had been the victim of a car-jacking, and the unknown suspect had a gun. Corona Police Detectives conducted a follow-up interview with Smith and determined that she was involved in the robbery. Smith was arrested for robbery and additional criminal charges are pending.

Deceased bank robbery suspect, Paul Alfred Eugene Johnson
(Photo Courtesy: Corona Police Department)

The pursuit ended when the suspect vehicle crashed off the 71 Expressway.  As the suspect exited the vehicle, he was struck multiple times by Police gunfire and was pronounced deceased at the scene.  The suspect was identified as Paul Alfred Eugene Johnson, 59, of Hemet.  Further investigation revealed a large sum of cash, an unknown type handgun, and additional evidence linking Johnson and the vehicle to the bank robbery in Corona.

Corona Police Detectives conducted a follow-up investigation related to the Pacific Premier Bank robbery. Based on the information gathered, detectives obtained a search warrant for a residence located in the 26000 block of Cortrite Ave. in the City of Hemet.

On Fri., Feb. 6, Officers from the Corona Police Department’s Special Response Team served the search warrant seeking additional evidence to support their investigation, additional suspects and other similar bank robberies throughout Southern California.

This particular incident is a large, multi-jurisdictional investigation. The Corona Police Department is handling the bank robbery and vehicle pursuit, while the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the officer-involved shooting in their jurisdiction. All officers are currently on paid administrative leave, per Department policy.

The Corona Police Department is seeking public assistance and is asking anyone having information related to the bank robbery to please call Senior Detective Dan Bloomfield at (951) 817-5767.