News Briefs: Menlo Park bank robber suspected in two robberies in San Francisco News Briefs: Menlo Park bank robber suspected in two robberies in San Francisco (January 26, 2005)

Authorities are on the lookout for a man suspected in three recent armed robberies of Bay Area banks, including the Washington Mutual Bank on Santa Cruz Avenue in Menlo Park on December 9.

Menlo Park police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are looking for a white man in his late 20s or early 30s with blue eyes and light brown hair, about 5 feet 8 inches tall, and weighing about 165 pounds.

In addition to the Menlo Park robbery, he is a suspect in two San Francisco robberies: November 20 at Union Commercial Bank on Clement Street and December 2 at Bank of America on Geary Boulevard.

Anyone with information is asked to call Menlo Park police Detective Bill Massey at 330-6363 or the anonymous tip line at 330-6395.

Suit against officers goes to trial

A civil lawsuit claiming that three Menlo Park police officers used excessive force in an arrest in December 2000 went to San Mateo County Superior Court on January 24.

The trial was expected to begin Monday afternoon and last seven to 10 days, Menlo Park City Attorney Bill McClure said.

A judge previously ordered the case to non-binding arbitration, where plaintiff David Alan McBay was awarded $29,500. The city, though, opted to take the case to court rather than pay, Mr. McClure said.

Mr. McBay claims that Officer Scott Mackdanz, Officer Kevin Paugh and Sgt. Matthew Bacon manhandled him during an arrest on North Lemon Street when they thought he was trespassing. Mr. McClure, though, said city officials believe the officers acted appropriately.

Man sentenced for embezzling

Bay City News

A former salesman convicted of embezzling funds from his former Menlo Park employer was sentenced January 19 to 90 days in jail and three years of probation.

Mark Cameron Hunter-Reay, 45, was also ordered to pay full restitution of the $21,390 taken from the company, Sound Perfection.

Superior Court Judge Steven Dylina also prohibited Mr. Hunter-Reay from taking employment that puts him in a role of financial responsibility, said San Mateo County Deputy District Attorney Stephanie Arthur.

On November 15, a jury convicted Mr. Hunter-Reay of one count of felony embezzlement for crimes that took place sometime around June of the year 2000.

According to the prosecution, Mr. Hunter-Reay embezzled the money by pilfering a portion of sales profits after failing to submit the total sale to the company. Mr. Hunter-Reay's behavior was discovered after he was terminated from his sales position and the company looked through his records, Ms. Arthur said.

One-way traffic for Sand Hill

A segment of Sand Hill Road will become a one-way street from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, January 25, through Friday, January 28, due to Stanford University's road-widening project in the area.

The road will become one-way over the San Francisquito Creek, with workers directing traffic through one side at a time. For more information, call 306-0350 or go to www.SandHillRoadProject.net.

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