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Turlock bank robberies added to Ceres man's charges
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Michael Torres, the Ceres man who was arrested for a May 27 robbery in Modesto, now has to answer to two September Turlock bank robberies.

Torres, 32, was arrested the afternoon he allegedly robbed the McHenry Village Farmers and Merchants Bank. Tips from a published surveillance camera photo led to his identification. He was arrested in the 3900 block of Ridlon Court where he was removing the lumber rack from his pickup and loading up trash in the bed so as to disguise the vehicle.

He was released on bail and last week implicated in two Turlock robberies, said Ceres Police Lt. Brent Smith. Torres turned himself in.

According to Modesto police, the Modesto bank was robbed at 10:05 a.m. by a man who walked in, showed a handgun and demanded money from a clerk. Detectives believe the man fled on a bicycle and abandoned it near Gourmet Buffet on the east side of the shopping center and then left in a dark-colored pickup.

Shortly after the surveillance photos of the suspect went viral on Twitter and Facebook, tips were given to police that it was Torres.

Torres was recently laid off of work with Frito-Lay in Modesto. However, the Turlock robberies occurred before the layoff, said Lt. Smith.