A man accused in a string of bank robberies across the valley is finally behind bars.
Wednesday, FBI agents swarmed a home near 60th Street and Bell Road, taking Alan Farber into custody. Investigators think he is the Dynomite Bandit.
Thursday afternoon, he made his first appearance in federal court.
Farber didn't say anything as he stood before a judge. He was one of the most wanted bank robbers in the state and it also turns out he's a former police officer.
Farber is accused in four attempted robberies and robberies since last summer. Agents say Farber would leave fake bombs inside the bank.
Back in 2008, we interviewed Farber for a story on home remodeling. Farber's contracting business shut down two years ago.
"He's a hell of a nice guy, I've dealt with him a number of times in the last six months," says Chuck Sanich.
Chuck Sanich cleaned Farber's pool. Friends and former business partners tell us Farber is the last person they would think would rob a bank.
"He's very cordial and personable and he always bring his dogs in when I have to do the pool."
Court paperwork reveal agents tracked Farber down after he left his finger prints on an ATV during a robbery of a Chase Bank on Dynamite Road in Scottsdale. Agents tailed him for days until they finally got enough evidence to arrest him.
Back in 1994, Farber worked as a police officer for LAPD. He left the department six years later.
Farber then went into the contracting business. He filed for bankruptcy back in 2012 at the same time the bank robberies started.
Now the FBI is trying to see if he's connected to any other bank robberies.
The FBI gave the robber the misspelled "Dynomite" nickname because the explosive devices he used were fake.
Thursday, May 23 2013 6:20 PM EDT2013-05-23 22:20:11 GMT
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Kerry Kennedy has joined farmworkers protesting outside Wendy's shareholder meeting in Manhattan.
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A $1,000 reward has been posted for information leading to the arrest and conviction of two men seen running to and away from a homicide scene Tuesday night in Camden.
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The NYPD arrested a suspect in the latest anti-gay attack in the city, said police.
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