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Suspect apprehended in Squirrel Hill bank robbery
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Pittsburgh police, acting off a tip from a mailman, quickly captured a suspect in a robbery at the First National Bank in Squirrel Hill Wednesday morning.
The suspect refused to give his name to investigators, who said they will use fingerprints to identify him. He was being held in the Allegheny County Jail Wednesday night under the name "John Doe" on charges of robbery, fire and drug violations.
Major Crimes Lt. Kevin Kraus said the suspect tried to walk into the bank before it opened but was unsuccessful. He returned again shortly after 9 a.m., pointed a gun at three tellers and placed cash in a white Eat 'n Park bag before running away.
The suspect, clad in an Ohio State University sweatshirt, hid behind some bushes until a mailman spotted him hiding there and called 911 at 9:38 a.m.
Officers from the city's Zone 4 station in Squirrel Hill were nearby and chased the man as he weaved across streets and driveways. The suspect ran in front of one officer, who crashed while trying to chase him. The officer could not open either of the front doors of his car and instead climbed out the back and joined in the chase, the lieutenant said.
He said the suspect was not cooperative and was taken to the jail to await arraignment.
The incident caused the nearby Hillel Academy to enact emergency procedures, confining students to classrooms and away from street-facing rooms until police gave them the all-clear.
First Published November 8, 2012 12:05 am
