Full Notification

For Immediate Release                                                       
Case #: 24-3692 & 25-0012
Tuesday, March 12, 2025   8:00 a.m.
PIO: Deputy Chief Aaron Johnson (707) 588-3580 ajohnson@rpcity.org

On Thursday, December 5, 2024, at approximately 11:30 am, the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety (RPDPS) received a 911 call regarding a bank robbery that had just occurred within the 300 block of Rohnert Park Expressway. The initial investigation revealed that the suspect entered the bank, told the bank teller that he had a firearm, and threatened to shoot the teller if the teller did not provide him with cash. A firearm was not seen by the bank staff.
 
An RPDPS Officer searched the area in which the suspect was believed to be running away from the bank. Ultimately, the RPDPS Officer located clothing items matching what the suspect was seen wearing on video surveillance footage in a nearby dumpster.

During this investigation, RPDPS was notified by the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) that SFPD Detectives were investigating a bank robbery that occurred in San Francisco in late December 2024 involving what appeared to be the same suspect based on video surveillance photograph comparison. The suspect was identified as James Michael Garrison.
 
On Thursday, January 2, 2025, at approximately 11:22 am, RPDPS received notification of a hold-up alarm activation from the same bank within the 300 block of Rohnert Park Expressway. During this incident, the suspect stated he was going to shoot the bank teller if the bank teller did not give the suspect money. Video surveillance footage of this incident led RPDPS Detectives to believe that this robbery was also committed by Garrison.
 
On January 3, 2025, San Francisco Police Department Officers and Detectives located and arrested Garrison following an incident in which he fled from Police and carjacked a ride-share driver utilizing a replica firearm.
 
With the assistance of SFPD’s crime laboratory, RPDPS Detectives were able to develop probable cause to believe that Garrison committed both bank robberies in Rohnert Park. Garrison remains in federal custody for the crimes he was arrested for on January 3, 2025.
 
RPDPS is collaborating with SFPD, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), and their prosecutors to ensure that these cases are prosecuted fully. RPPDS would like to thank SFPD and the FBI for their assistance with these investigations.
 
If you have further information about these cases, please contact Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety Detective Kevin Escher at (707) 588-3542 and refer to case #24-3692. For media inquiries, please contact Sergeant Justin Wax at (707) 588-3545.