S.F. man accused of robbing 2 Tahoe banks

A Bay Area man wanted in connection with two Lake Tahoe bank robberies was apprehended in Reno on Oct. 7.

James Patrick Harnett

James Patrick Harnett, 49, of San Francisco was arrested at 5pm Tuesday at the Reno Transit Center on East 4th Street. Harnett was considered armed and dangerous, as well as a flight risk.

Harnett is suspected of robbing the Bank of the West in Kings Beach on Aug. 23, as well as the El Dorado Savings Bank two days earlier in South Lake Tahoe.

Placer County sheriff’s detectives received information that the suspected bank robber was in the downtown Reno area and a warrant for his arrest had been issued. A Washoe County sheriff’s detective initially contacted the suspect while he was attempting to make a call from a payphone inside the transit center. The suspect was taken into custody without incident.

Harnett was in custody in Reno awaiting extradition to Placer County on a $100,000 arrest warrant.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report