EFFINGHAM â A 33-year-old suspect in a Michigan bank robbery took his own life after nearly an eight-hour standoff in Effingham.
According to the Shelby Township Police Department in Michigan, officers were notified of a bank robbery at 10:36 a.m. Thursday at a Bank of America location.
Officers spoke to bank employees who stated that a man had entered the facility, approached a teller and passed a note demanding money. He then fled the bank. Officers were unable to locate the suspect at that time.
“Detectives spent the next several hours investigating this case and reviewing video from different locations in the township,” stated Sgt. Mark Benedettini of the Shelby Township Police Department. “Detectives were able to learn that once the suspect fled the bank, he got on a motorized scooter which he had parked near the bank. The suspect then drove the scooter to a semi-truck he had parked in the area.”
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The suspect used the semi-truck to flee the area.
Detectives found the semi-truck was associated with an Illinois trucking company, and they were able to track the suspect to Effingham.
The Effingham Police Department assisted in locating the suspect and the semi-truck at a nearby TA Truck Stop.
“The suspect resisted arrest and was able to barricade himself inside of the semi-truck with a gun,” Benedettini said. “Police immediately disabled the semi-truck, which prevented his escape.”
The incident was assisted by Effingham County Sheriffâs Department and the Illinois State Police SWAT Team and Crisis Negotiating Team. After nearly eight hours of negotiations had failed, the suspect took his own life, the Shelby Township Police Department said.
âMake no mistake about it, if you come to Shelby Township to commit a crime, our department will track you down no matter where you try to hide,â Shelby Township Police Chief Robert Shelide stated.
Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR