UPDATE: Police believe suspected bank robber in Santa Maria was on drugs

Posted: Aug 11, 2012 11:54 PM by Kathy Kuretich

Santa Maria Police have released more details about the events involving a suspected bank robber who stole and crashed a police car, injuring four people.

Officers say around 1pm Saturday, a parolee from Atascadero, 42 year-old Phillip Craig Bailey, walked into Chase Bank on North Broadway. There, they say he assaulted and threatened an employee and demanded money. Once given an undisclosed amount of cash, they say Bailey ran out of the bank.
Witness told police he was seen getting into the bed of a red Chevy Silverado pickup near Taylor and Broadway.

About five minutes later, officers say Bailey attempted to carjack a young woman in the area of Pine and Donovan... they say he assaulted the woman, and two citizens tried to stop him, but he managed to break free.

After running away, officers say Bailey ran up to a red Jeep Cherokee near Pine and Donovan, tried to carjack the vehicle, but the driver drove off. They say Bailey held on to the Cherokee until Donovan and Thornburg, but let go after seeing a police officer responding to the scene. They say he charged the officer after he got out of the car.

They say the officer tried several means of detaining Bailey during the fight, but Bailey managed to get into the driver's seat of the officer's marked police car. They say the officer reached into the car to once again try and detain Bailey, but Bailey took off, dragging the officer a short distance and causing minor injuries.

While speeding in the police car, officers say, Bailey caused a major traffic accident, injuring four people, including himself on Blosser Road just south of Main Street.
They say the injuries range from major to moderate.

Santa Maria Police believe Bailey was under the influence of some kind of stimulant drug.

Bailey is receiving medical treatment at an out of the area hospital.

They say he will be booked on a variety of criminal charges, including Bank Robbery, Attempt Murder of a Peace Officer, Kidnapping, Carjacking, Attempted
Carjacking, and Criminal Threats. They say the incident remains under investigation.

Santa Maria Police also believe the driver of the red Silverado may also be a victim, and they are urging anyone with information on that to contact Santa Maria Police.

The California Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.