Goleta Bank Robber Dead, Believed to be “Faux Badge Bandit”

(Photos: Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office)
Update by Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office
7:30 p.m., July 20, 2018

The Sheriff’s Office is releasing the identity of the bank robbery suspect who committed suicide several hours after robbing a bank today, July 20, 2018 in Goleta. The decedent is 41-year-old Keith David Goodwin with ties to Fresno and San Francisco. Next of kin has been notified.

Sheriff’s detectives are continuing to follow leads and work closely with the FBI to determine Goodwin’s connection to additional bank robberies within the state of California. Goodwin is suspected of robbing at least nine banks throughout California in the last two months. The investigation is on-going and no additional details will be released at this time.

The attached surveillance photo is from the bank robbery today in Goleta.


Update by Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office

5:00 p.m., July 20, 2018

At approximately 10:45 a.m. this morning, July 20, 2018, Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a bank robbery at the Rabobank located in the 5900 block of Calle Real in the City of Goleta. The suspect, described as a white male adult in his thirties, passed the teller a note demanding cash and made threatening statements. A handgun was observed. After receiving an undisclosed amount of cash, the suspect exited the rear of the building into the parking lot. He was last seen heading northbound on Calle Real in a maroon four-door Nissan sedan.

Sheriff’s deputies began searching for the suspect with the assistance of CHP, UCSB Police and a Santa Barbara County Sheriff/Fire Air Support Unit helicopter. Sheriff’s deputies stopped a vehicle that matched the description of the suspect vehicle but determined it was unrelated. As with all bank robberies, FBI agents responded to assist Sheriff’s detectives with the investigation into determining the identity of the suspect and his potential whereabouts.

At approximately 12:25 p.m., the Santa Barbara County Public Safety Dispatch Center received a call from an employee at a business located in 100 block of Carlo Drive in Goleta. The employee reported a suspicious person had come into the business, had discarded clothing and was in the bathroom. Simultaneously, Sheriff’s deputies located a vehicle matching the description of the bank robbery suspect vehicle in a nearby parking lot.

Sheriff’s deputies secured a perimeter and were assisted once again by a Santa Barbara County Sheriff/Fire Air Support Unit helicopter and CHP Officers, including a K-9 team. Sheriff’s deputies evacuated the building which included several small businesses with about 15 people inside. Once the area was contained, Sheriff’s deputies with the assistance of the CHP K9 team made an entrance into the business where the suspect was believed to have been. When they opened the bathroom door, they located a deceased male with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

While the decedent is believed to be the bank robbery suspect, his identity is being withheld pending next of kin notification. The Sheriff’s Office is working closely with the FBI to determine if this suspect is related to additional bank robberies within the state of California.

The Sheriff’s Office wants to take this opportunity to thank Goleta residents and businesses for their assistance and cooperation throughout this dynamic investigation.


Update by edhat staff

4:00 p.m., July 20, 2018

Police believe the man wanted for robbing the Goleta Rabobank at gunpoint on Friday morning is now dead, and possibly a serial bank robber known as the “Faux Badge Bandit.”

Law enforcement confirmed to KEYT News, the suspect is believed to be wanted by the FBI for a string of bank robberies. The latest robbery occurred in Danville, CA on July 12.

According to authorities, the suspect robbed the Rabobank at 5956 Calle Real with a gun then drove to a building on 25 Carlo Drive. The suspect walked into a nail salon and asked to use the bathroom, arousing suspicion from people in the salon who called 911. 

Sheriff Deputies arrived on Carlo Drive and surrounded the building, ultimately finding the man they believe to be the suspected bank robber had died from a single self-inflicted gunshot wound, reports KEYT.

The FBI had been searching for the bank robber since May 2018 and had linked him to bank robberies that started in southern California and moved up the state. He was given the “Faux Badge” moniker after witnesses in several bank robberies said he wore a seven-point law enforcement badge on his hip along with a shoulder holster. He also tended to show a handgun while demanding cash from tellers, according to KEYT.


Update by edhat staff

11:20 a.m., July 20, 2018

A white man in his 30’s is wanted for robbing the Goleta Rabobank at gunpoint on Friday morning.

It happened around 10:30 – 10:45 a.m. in the 5900 block of Calle Real near Fairviews, directly across the street from Zodo’s. 

Initial reports state a man with a black pistol held up the bank making statements about shooting people and aimed the gun at customers and employees.

He then fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash and got inside a maroon sedan, possibly a Toyota, with the license plate registered in Fresno, CA. 

The suspect is described as a white male, in his 30’s, 6 feet tall, and approximately 250 lbs with a stocky build. He is described as clean cut wearing a white shirt with a green undershirt and a hat with white mesh and a green bill.

Initial reports also state this man may be involved in another bank robbery in a different county.

More information about this incident will be updated when it’s available.


By an edhat reader

10:50 a.m., July 20, 2018

A coworker just said there is a possible bank robbery in Goleta. Does anyone have more information?

Edhat Staff

Written by Edhat Staff

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13 Comments

  1. A-153211976. All I know for sure is the suspect is dead, and the radio traffic went Code 4 immediately when deputies went to enter the restroom. CHP advised their units per Sheriff’s Dispatch suspect was 11-44. John Palmentari is on-scene, so KEYT will have the story soon.

  2. Suspect drove North on Calle Real dumped his vehicle and hid out in a business there in a bathroom till aprox 40 minutes ago which would have been around 12:20pm sliding out the back into a creek area. He is wearing jeans, a sport coat, and a yellow tie WMA 30’s, 250 pounds…Vehicle used in the robbery possibly stolen so he is probably looking around for another vehicle or way out SUSPECT IS ARMED AND DANGEROUS…..LOCK UP.

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