SANTA MARIA, Calif.- The man accused of robbing a bank, stealing a police car and crashing it into three cars has had a multiple run-ins with the law.
Police tell Central Coast News 42-year-old Phillip Bailey was arrested in July 2012 for possession of Toluene, which is typically used as an inhalant drug and cited for public intoxication. On December 7, 2011, Bailey filed a lawsuit in federal court against San Luis Obispo County Sheriff, Ian Parkinson, and the San Luis Obispo County Jail Medical Department in regards to inappropriate housing conditions. Bakersfield Police tell Central Coast News, Bailey was a suspect in 2009 in a grand theft case.
Police suspect Bailey was under the influence of drugs on Saturday when he attempted to rob a bank, steal a police car and crashed into three cars causing a major collision.
"That type of behavior would be indicative of some type of controlled substance, some type of drug, inhalant potentially," says Sergeant Russel Mengel, Santa Maria Police Department.
As of Monday evening, Bailey is still in the hospital and is being treated for moderate to major injuries.
"There is a multitude of charges, murder also car jacking, the bank robbery itself and a few others," says Lieutenant Rico Flores, Santa Maria Police Department.
The bank robbed on north Broadway has been hit before.
"They have been a victim prior to this incident, approximately two times within the last three years," says Flores.
Businesses in the area also tell Central Coast News Del Taco, a donut shop and a smoke shop have been robbed.
"It's scary you never know when it will be your place now," says Ruth Suarz, a Del Taco employee.
