LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A continuing investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit has resulted in positively identifying the suspect allegedly responsible for two bank robberies in Middletown.

On Friday sheriff’s detectives obtained a felony arrest warrant in the amount of $750,000 for 23-year-old Joshua James Metoxen of Napa, according to Lt. Steve Brooks.

Brooks said Metoxen is the prime suspect in the Feb. 27 robbery of Westamerica Bank and the March 7 robbery at Tri Counties Bank, both in Middletown.

Through the efforts of the Lake County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit Metoxen also identified as the suspect in at least six unsolved bank robberies in Marin and San Mateo counties.

Sheriff Frank Rivero expressed his gratitude for the dogged investigation conducted by the detectives in the Major Crimes Unit.

The unit is headed up by Lt. Brian Kenner and Det. Sgt. Corey Paulich. “Without their efforts this case would have gone cold and the outside agency cases would have remained cold,” Rivero.

There is currently a multiagency manhunt underway for Metoxen, officials reported.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office requests the public’s assistance in locating Metoxen.

Anyone with information concerning his whereabouts is encouraged to call the Lake County Sheriff’s Office or 911.

Metoxen should be considered armed and extremely dangerous and should not be approached.