Suspect arrested after Newport bank robbery

Police arrested a man who they say used a pellet gun to rob a Newport Beach bank Tuesday afternoon.

Vu Hoan Le, 39, of Garden Grove was arrested after a man entered a Bank of America branch at 4101 MacArthur Blvd. around 3 p.m., approached a teller, demanded cash and brandished what looked like a firearm, according to police.

After employees gave the man cash, he fled, Newport Beach police spokeswoman Jennifer Manzella said.

With the help of an Orange County Sheriff’s Department helicopter, Newport police searched for the robber, Manzella said. Officers arrested Le near Euclid Street and Talbert Avenue in Fountain Valley and found a replica gun that fires pellets, police said.

Investigators are looking into whether Le might be linked to other robberies in the area.

Police are asking that anyone with information contact Det. Kyle Cammack at (949) 644-3779 or [email protected].

— Jeremiah Dobruck

Twitter: @jeremiahdobruck