RIVERSIDE, Calif.–An alleged robber who spit gasoline inside a credit union branch here has been arrested and charged with attempted arson, in addition to robbery charges.
Police have arrested Brian Paul Buell, 35, for the crime. Buell has pleaded not guilty and was being held at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside, Calif., with bail set at $205,000.
As CUToday.info reported here Buell allegedly walked into a branch of Altura Credit Union and demanded money, but was refused.
“He spit and poured gasoline throughout the bank and threatened to burn down the building unless he was given the money,” police said in a statement. “He also tried to light a roll of toilet paper on fire to ignite the trail of gasoline but was unsuccessful due to the rain that afternoon.”
In their statement police said a patrol unit spotted a transient matching the would-be robber’s description near Main Street and the 60 Freeway and detained him. Credit union staff identified Buell as the man who tried to rob them, police said.
According to court records, Buell has prior convictions for robbery, burglary and auto theft.