By Daily Press staff
LOS ANGELES — A suspected bank robber, shot by police after a downtown bank holdup on Monday, is thought to be the man known as the “Newspaper Bandit,” who officials believe was involved in Santa Monica robberies earlier this year.
However, because no charges have been filed against Forrest Jackson, 52, authorities declined to give specifics about the Santa Monica heists for fear of tainting the witness pool.
“They are in the process of interviewing the witnesses and putting the case together,” said FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller.
Jackson was wounded Monday afternoon at 11th Street and Broadway while carrying a replica gun and a 14-inch samurai-style sword, LAPD Lt. Paul Vernon said. Minutes earlier, a Citibank branch at Ninth and Spring streets was robbed.
Jackson was hospitalized, and the lieutenant would say only that he was stable.
Eimiller said Jackson is believed to be the Newspaper Bandit, named because the robber carried a newspaper in early holdups. He is believed to be responsible for 16 bank robberies since October 2004, she said.
Santa Monica police detectives from the robbery-homicide unit are working with both the FBI and LAPD on the case. The investigation is ongoing and as additional information is available, it will be released.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 14, 2005. Read the original PDF.