Teller’s art helps catch ‘bandit’

Published 10:13 pm Saturday, February 2, 2008

SANTA ANA, Calif. — A bank robbery suspect whose “Hobo Bandit” appearance inspired a bank teller to paint his portrait has been arrested, police said.

Kirby Dean Guyette, 52, suspected of robbing two banks in recent weeks, was taken into custody Thursday by officers looking for a green van that witnesses described as the getaway vehicle, police Cpl. Jose Gonzalez said Friday.

The alleged getaway driver, 52-year-old Jack Paine, was also arrested, Gonzalez said.

Both men were being held on $50,000 bail. It wasn’t clear whether either had been assigned a defense attorney.

Authorities allege Guyette walked into a Washington Mutual branch on Monday and slipped a teller a note demanding money and warning that he was carrying a gun.

That night, teller Nick Wildermuth painted a portrait of the robber from memory.

The suspect’s unkempt appearance earned him the moniker the “Hobo Bandit.”