By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
Police officers investigate the scene of a bank robbery
yesterday at American Savings Bank in Kaimuki.
Wallace Silva, 43, was arrested an hour later
at his girlfriend's home.
Robbery suspect
has long record
Wallace Silva has been convicted
By Rod Ohira
of rape, auto theft and robbery
Star-BulletinA convict on probation who was arrested for bank robbery yesterday has a criminal history dating back more than two decades, according to court records. Wallace Silva, taken into custody when he showed up at his girlfriend's home at Mayor Wright Housing, has a record that includes arrests for robberies, rape, theft and firearm offenses dating back to 1973, court records show. Officials said Silva also has a long history of drug use.
He has been ordered to undergo a full psychiatric evaluation at the Springfield, Mo., federal facility and is expected to be shipped there within the next 10 days.
Silva, 43, was taken into custody at 10:45 a.m. yesterday following a brief struggle in which one agent suffered a minor arm injury, FBI spokesman John Pikus said.
At 9:40 a.m. yesterday, police said, Silva robbed the Kaimuki branch of American Savings, less than 24 hours after he allegedly robbed Bank of Honolulu's Kapiolani branch.
After yesterday's robbery, Silva took a cab to Pua Lane, near Mayor Wright Housing in Kalihi, Pikus said.
FBI agents, who had been watching the area for 36 hours, received permission from the mother of Silva's girlfriend to enter her home. After an FBI agent greeted Silva at the door, the suspect tried to run away.
"He dropped the loot and some clothing while trying to flee," Pikus said.
Silva was arrested on a warrant charging him with robbing Bank of Hawaii's Discovery Bay branch of $1,320 on May 29.
Silva is suspected of robbing three other banks, in addition to the two this week and the May 29 holdup.
"It appears he used the (stolen bank) money to buy drugs," said Pikus.
In July 1974, Silva was convicted on Kauai of first-degree rape and two counts of second-degree robbery. He was arrested on Kauai in August 1980 for being a felon in possession of a firearm but was not charged.
More recently, an Oahu grand jury indicted Silva in September 1994 for auto theft. He agreed to plead guilty in exchange for short jail time and probation.
On June 14, 1995, Circuit Judge Bambi Weil sentenced Silva to five years' probation and one year in prison. She also ordered Silva to get a full-time job and/or take vocational training, and enter a drug treatment program.
Prosecutors, however, filed a motion to revoke Silva's probation on May 7, 1996, for failing to report to his probation officer, failure to promptly notify his probation officer that he was questioned and/or arrested by law enforcement officers, and for not participating in a drug treatment program until clinically discharged.
Following his arrest, Silva was sentenced to five years' probation by Weil on July 11, 1996.
In May of this year, Silva became a bank robbery suspect.
Silva's capture was difficult because he is homeless, Pikus noted.
"He was elusive, never stayed in the same place," Pikus said. "He created quite a challenge for us."
Silva's suspected hideouts included Kapena Falls in Liliha and Waikiki hotel rooms. While watching the drug-dealing areas around Mayor Wright Housing, FBI agents received information about Silva's girlfriend.
"She was very cooperative," Pikus said.
Silva was in custody earlier this month but escaped due to a mix-up at Queen's Hospital.
Police arrested Silva after he was involved in a traffic accident while riding a stolen bicycle. He was taken to the hospital, where doctors said he had suffered a collapsed lung, Pikus said.
The doctors said Silva would need to be confined in the hospital for several weeks.
The FBI said he walked out of the hospital the next day.
On June 17, he allegedly robbed Bank of Hawaii's Kapahulu branch, and the next day, he allegedly struck at the bank's Mapunapuna branch, the FBI said.
Silva is also a suspect in Saturday's robbery of the Marc Suites Waikiki Royal hotel and an attempted robbery at Sears Ala Moana, police said.
Star-Bulletin reporters Alan Matsuoka and
Gregg Kakesako contributed to this report.
