Man Suspected of Robbing West Covina Credit Union Identified

Police authorities identified tuesday a parolee who allegedly robbed a West Covina credit union, then led officers on a vehicle chase throughout the San Gabriel Valley.

Jerry Lee Franklin, 39, of Whittier robbed the First Federal Credit Union at 2530 E. Garvey Ave. shortly after 10 a.m. Monday, said West Covina police Lt. Joseph Sevilla.

Police chased Franklin's white van first westbound, then eastbound on the San Bernardino (10) Freeway, then south on the San Gabriel River (605) Freeway into Whittier.

On a surface street, the van slowed to about 10 miles per hour and a woman believed to be Franklin's girlfriend grabbed onto the side and pulled herself into a rear driver's side window. Police identified her today as 36-year-old Yvonne Jeanette Farano of Whittier.

Franklin kept driving a short distance but came to a stop near Whittier Boulevard and Penn Street after police tried a PIT maneuver, Sevilla said.

Farano got out of the van and surrendered, but Franklin remained inside until a police dog was sent in. He scampered out of the vehicle with the dog biting at his pants as cash spilled out of the van onto the street.

Franklin was taken to a hospital to be treated for a dog bite, police said. An undetermined amount of cash was recovered, as was a gun that had been
tossed from the van during the pursuit, Sevilla said.

The gun was not used during the robbery, he said, adding that Franklin handed a teller a note.

Franklin was booked for robbery, felony evading, resisting arrest and a parole violation, Sevilla said. Farano was booked for robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and resisting arrest, he said.

Franklin was jailed on a no-bail hold at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles and Farano was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail at the West Covina jail, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department online booking records.

Both were due in court in West Covina Wednesday, according to the sheriff's department website.