In the afternoon of Monday, August 24, 2015 around 3:30 PM, a man entered the National bank of Arizona at Kyrene and Chandler Blvd. He demanded money and indicated he had a gun. He grabbed a bank bag and fled. Witnesses saw the man get into an older model purple Chrysler Sebring and notified police. Minutes after receiving the call from the bank, officers located the vehicle and attempted to stop the suspect. The vehicle abruptly stopped in the area of 56th St. and Galveston St. where the suspect fired on officers striking a marked police vehicle. Officers returned gunfire and the suspect fled in his vehicle leading police on a multi-jurisdictional pursuit through Chandler, Tempe, Guadalupe and Phoenix.
The suspect fired on officers again striking a second Chandler police vehicle. Chandler officers were assisted by troopers from the Department of Public Safety, MCSO deputies, Phoenix Police ground and air units, Tempe Police officers and members of the FBI and US Marshall’s office. The suspect eventually stopped on Mill Avenue at University in Tempe. He ran from his vehicle while under surveillance by the Phoenix Police air unit, which directed officers on foot. He was taken into custody in the plaza outside a movie theater without incident. The suspect was identified as a serial bank robbery suspect who was wanted in connection with numerous violent robberies throughout the east valley.
Fortunately, no one was injured during this incident. We are especially proud of the heroism displayed by our officers and all members of the valley law enforcement community who assisted with the apprehension of this violent felony offender.