Man held in bank heist

A Newport Coast man was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of robbing a Newport Center bank at gunpoint, police said.

The robber displayed a handgun and demanded money from a teller at the Bank of America branch at San Miguel Drive and Newport Center Drive at 11:45 a.m.; he left the bank with an unknown amount of cash, said Sgt. John Hougan.

A witness who called police saw the robber ? who looked “suspicious” dressed in all black ? leave the bank. Police followed the man on a brief pursuit, which ended with his arrest at Mesa Drive and Irvine Avenue, Hougan said.

Steve Dangkhoa Lee, 33, was taken into custody and is being held on suspicion of bank robbery.

Police are investigating Lee in other bank robberies.