'BOTH HANDS BANDIT' SUSPECT ARRESTED.

Byline: Cecilia Chan Staff Writer

The so-called ``Both Hands Bandit,'' a suspect in the robbery of 11 banks, including a Bank of America branch in Ventura this week, has been apprehended, the FBI announced Thursday.

Richard John Geise, 52, of Ventura was arrested Wednesday by Orange County authorities in a Los Angeles hotel after receiving a tip from an informant, officials said.

``We got him on 11 bank robberies,'' FBI Special Agent Brent Robbins said. ``He did nine in Ventura County, one in Santa Barbara County and one in Orange County.''

Robbins could not disclose how much money Geise is suspected of taking from his robberies.

Geise was dubbed the Both Hands Bandit because he would extend both arms as he displayed a note demanding cash from bank tellers, Robbins said. The suspect was not armed during the robberies.

The Both Hands Bandit is suspected in robberies dating back to August, officials said.

``Apparently there have been indications there may have been accomplices as get-away drivers,'' Robbins said. ``It's part of the investigation.''

Geise is the father of Richard John Geise Jr., 32, of Ojai, who has been charged with murder in the April 6 shooting death of Alejandro Alvarez during a robbery at the Central Market in Ventura, officials said.