Robbery Suspect Arrested After Standoff

Orange County sheriff’s deputies arrested a bank robbery suspect after a tense, 30-minute standoff in which he put a gun to his head and threatened to commit suicide, a spokesman said Saturday.

Gary P. McNally was arrested in connection with the robbery of a Wells Fargo Bank branch on Rockfield Boulevard in Lake Forest about 5:45 p.m. Friday, authorities said. McNally led deputies on a chase on Interstate 5 into San Diego County, Sheriff’s Lt. Rich Paddock said.

According to deputies, McNally then stopped his car on the shoulder of Highway 76 in Oceanside and threatened to shoot himself. Deputy Kevin Christensen used a loudspeaker to communicate with McNally, who gave the deputy “thumbs-up” and “thumbs-down” signals, Paddock said.

Eventually, McNally dropped the gun and agreed to surrender, Paddock said. McNally, listed in sheriff’s reports as a United Kingdom resident, was being held Saturday at Orange County Jail on suspicion of robbery.