Posted at 12:12 p.m., Wednesday, March 5, 2003
Suspected bank robber arrested in California
By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
Honolulu police and the FBI today announced the arrest of Christopher Kegler based on information received through CrimeStoppers.
Kegler was arrested in San Francisco at about 7 p.m. Hawai'i time and is awaiting extradition to Hawai'i. He is a suspect in the First Hawaiian Bank robbery.
Police received the information that led to Kegler's arrest shortly after Friday's 9:15 a.m. robbery. Someone at the bank overheard the robber telling a cab driver to take him to Honolulu International Airport.
Police were able to locate the cab driver and learned that Kegler had taken a flight to San Francisco.
Kegler is also suspected of robbing American Saving Bank's Market City Foodland branches on Sept. 28 and Oct. 31; Bank of Hawaii's Star Market branch at Kamehameha Shopping Center on Oct. 19; and Bank of Hawaii's Star Market branch in Mo'ili'ili on Nov. 1. He is a suspect in a Halloween bank holdup in which the robber was dressed as a clown.
In addition to the bank robbery charges, Kegler is facing federal prosecution on drug charges stemming from his arrest in March 2001 at the Honolulu airport. Kegler, also known as Christopher Thomas, was charged with possessing eight pounds of crystal methamphetamine found in his luggage.
