UPDATE: Scotts Valley bank robbery suspect arrested in San Jose

UPDATE 1/30/17 1:26 p.m.: On Monday, investigators released a mugshot of the man arrested last week after a crime spree from Scotts Valley to San Jose.

According to the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, Cruz Vargas, 21, has been arrested and charged with a bank robbery in Scotts Valley, a vehicle pursuit with police up Highway 17 and a carjacking in Los Gatos, among other charges.

UPDATE 1/27/17 8:23 p.m.: The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office said its detectives are “very confident” they have the Scotts Valley robbery suspect in custody.

The Sheriff’s Office made the announcement on its social media accounts, saying detectives are confident they have the suspect based on early evidence.

UPDATE 1/27/17 6:09 p.m.: Police have arrested three people in connection to an unmarked law enforcement vehicle. At this point authorities say its unclear what their connection is to the Scotts Valley bank robbery.

All three suspects were arrested in downtown San Jose at an apartment complex. More than 50 officer responded. The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office reported that the man who robbed the bank stole the unmarked car.UPDATE 1/27/17 5:18 p.m.: According to KION’s Bay Area sister station KPIX, the stolen unmarked car has been located in San Jose and an arrest has been made.It’s unclear whether the man arrested is the suspect wanted for robbing a bank in Scotts Valley on Thursday or not.

We’ve reached out to San Jose police for more information.UPDATE 1/27/2017 3:50 PM: A wanted Scotts Valley bank robber may have left the area, after stealing an unmarked law enforcement vehicle last night.

Sergeant Rich Glennon, of the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, says the car was stolen from a private residence in the Redwood Estates neighborhood, and was not connected to the search. The car, he said, was not equipped with a police scanner or weapon.

Glennon told reporters at a Friday press conference that the suspect is “mobile” and may have left the area.

“This was all-hands-on-deck with multiple agencies,” said Glenon, “but the suspect is determined. He braved the elements. He braved the terrain.”

Glennon said the suspect is considered armed and dangerous, and cautioned the public against approaching him.

UPDATE 1/27/2017 3:00 PM:

The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office says a man wanted for robbing a Scotts Valley bank stole a silver colored 2009 Chevy Malibu LE, with California license plate number 3QWI051, from Redwood Estates.

The stolen car is similar to the car shown here.

The suspect is described as an Hispanic male, 5′ 9″, with a thin build and groomed facial hair.

ORIGINAL STORY: The search for a bank robbery suspect will continue Friday around Redwood Estates and surrounding areas.

According to the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, the active search was stopped around 1 a.m. Friday morning , but investigators believe the robber is still in the area.

As a safety precaution, the Los Gatos Union School District said Lexington Elementary School would be closed on Friday, January 27 , 2017. SUSPECT SPOTTED

Deputies may have been close to finding him in Los Gatos Thursday night.

A woman told deputies that a man broke into her home on Weaver Road around 10 p.m., threatened her with a knife, and stole her car. He didn’t get far before driving over spike strips and disabling the car. Deputies say he escaped on foot.

The search began earlier Thursday, when a man robbed the Bank of America at 4525 Scotts Valley Drive. He left the bank, and led police on a pursuit on northbound Highway 17. At one point, a Scotts Valley police officer fired at the suspect.

“There was some sort of traffic collision involving the suspect, and that point, a Scotts Valley P.D. officer discharged his weapon AND the suspect fled,” said Sgt. Rich Glennon of the Santa Clara Sheriff’s Office. Glennon said the officer was not injured and there was no indication the suspect was hit.

Bank surveillance video showed the suspect wearing a black jacket, dark jeans and face mask.

The pursuit and search closed Highway 17 in both directions. Two nearby schools were placed on lockdown for a portion of the day – long enough to worry parents.

“Anytime you know of an active shooter in the area and your child’s there, then of course it’s incredibly frightening,” said parent Sarah Johnston.

Parents were escorted into the neighborhood to pick up their children.

The search involved several law enforcement agencies.

“We have multiple agencies here that are searching the area trying to locate that suspect,” said CHP officer Ross Lee. “Until we are able to locate that suspect, or determine definitively that he’s moved out of the area, these lanes of traffic will continue to be shut down.”

Both lanes of the highway were reopened by 8:40 p.m. Thursday night.