Man Threatens To Blow Up Banning Bank In Attempted Robbery

A robbery suspect allegedly threatened to blow up a bank in Banning Wednesday but was quickly taken into custody, police reported.

Brian Clough, 52, of Bell, allegedly demanded cash from tellers at the Chase bank branch at 1118 W. Ramsey St., saying he would detonate explosives if the employees did not comply with his request, said Banning Police Department spokeswoman Ginger Perry.

When officers arrived around 3 p.m., Clough bolted but was quickly tracked down and taken into custody without incident, she said.

Clough was not in possession of any explosives when taken into custody, and police searched the area around the bank and found nothing amiss, Perry said, adding that detectives determined he had been acting alone.

Clough was booked at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning on suspicion of robbery and making terrorist threats, Perry said.