A suspect in a January bank robbery in Yakima was arrested yesterday in Vancouver, Washington, transported back to Yakima, and booked into the Yakima County Jail on charges of 1st degree robbery.
On January 28th at about 4:00 pm, Yakima police responded to the U.S. Bank branch located at 5601 Summitview Avenue in Yakima regarding a robbery that had just occurred. A teller stated a man walked into the bank and handed the teller a note that stated, “Put the money in the envelope, I have a gun.” Money was given to the suspect and he fled the bank in a silver sedan.
The case had gone cold until yesterday (February 21st) when Yakima Police Department (YPD) Major Crimes detectives received a call from the Vancouver, Washington Police Department (VPD). A VPD detective stated a 50-year-old transient called VPD from a bus depot after his vehicle suffered a flat tire. The transient didn’t have enough money to fix his tire or ride the bus, so he called VPD and admitted to his involvement in the bank robbery in Yakima.
YPD detectives traveled to Vancouver yesterday and interviewed the transient, who provided details about the robbery that only the robber would know. A search of the transient’s vehicle produced the matching gloves, hat, mask and note that was used in the robbery. Twenty-two dollars of US currency, belonging to US Bank, was also recovered. The remaining money had already been spent, according to the man.
The name of the suspect is being withheld until he can be formally arraigned.
Anyone with information that may be relevant to this case is urged to contact the Yakima Police Department at 509-575-6200 or by calling 9-1-1. Tips can be also be reported to Yakima County Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), on the organization’s website at www.crimestoppersyakco.org, or through the “P3 Tips” app at http://p3intel.com/mobileapp.htm that can be downloaded for free.