Suspected Bank Robber Wounded by Beverly Hills Police, Hospitalized

A suspected bank robber wounded by Beverly Hills police in the lobby of a Rodeo Drive hotel was hospitalized today with stable vital signs, while his alleged accomplice awaited arraignment.

Joseph Raouf, 25, of Los Angeles, who was booked on suspicion of robbery, was hospitalized with stable vital signs, Beverly Hills police Sgt. Max Subin said.

Raouf was initially reported in critical condition following the shooting in the Luxe Rodeo Drive Hotel about 4:20 p.m. Monday. No one else was hurt.

Henry Shark, 36, a transient, was arrested near the Bank of America branch at Beverly Driver and Santa Monica Boulevard shortly after it was robbed about 4 p.m. He was booked on suspicion of robbery and conspiracy, Subin said.

Police said they traced Raouf to the hotel at 360 N. Rodeo Drive, thanks to a GPS-enabled tracking device that was put into the cash taken in the holdup.

Shark was detained when an officer noticed he matched the description of one of the robbers.

FBI agents are investigating if the pair could be linked to other recent bank robberies in the area.

—City News Service

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