Suspected bank robber arrested in California
By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
A 33-year-old man, who police have identified as a suspect in six O'ahu bank robberies dating to Sept. 28, was arrested Friday in San Francisco about 10 hours after a First Hawaiian Bank branch at 1420 Liliha St. was robbed.
CrimeStoppers photo
Honolulu police and the FBI yesterday announced the arrest of Christopher Kegler based on information received through CrimeStoppers.
Christopher Kegler is a suspect in a Halloween bank holdup in which the robber was dressed as a clown.
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 find the cab driver and learned that Kegler had taken a flight to San Francisco.
Kegler is also suspected of robbing American Savings 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.
