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Bouquet bank robber also displays gun, takes the money and runs

Star Tribune

Last update: January 11, 2008 - 4:13 PM

If the man who robbed a bank in Minneapolis wanted to avoid drawing attention to himself, then maybe he should have left behind the bouquet of fresh-cut flowers he was carrying. And the fur-lined military-style parka he was wearing probably drew some attention as well.

The FBI said it believes this robbery is the third by this suspect in the area since mid-December. The other two were also TCF branches, but they were located in Cub Foods stores.

According to the FBI:

Shortly after noon Thursday, the man approached a teller at the TCF Bank in the 1600 block of New Brighton Boulevard. Along with the flowers, the suspect was carrying a black canvas bag. And a gun.

He pulled out his pistol and said he wanted money in a breath that had the odor of alcohol.

With the pistol placed on the counter and pointed toward the teller, the robber was given the usual "undisclosed amount of money" and then fled in a late-1990s to early 2000s red Ford Escort.

The suspect is described as black, with moles on his face, goatee, about 40 to 50 years old and 6 feet tall with a medium build.

Along with the olive-colored parka, he was wearing blue jeans and a light-colored baseball cap.

Authorities suspect he also is responsible for the Dec. 17 robbery of the TCF in the 3700 block of Lexington Avenue N. in Arden Hills and the Dec. 12 heist at the TCF in the 2100 block of N. Snelling Avenue in Roseville.

In the Arden Hills heist, the FBI said the man pointed a handgun at the teller and demanded money before leaving on foot with the loot.

The robber must have ditched the cash when a dye pack exploded. Ramsey County sheriff's deputies found the money, the dye pack and a pellet gun in the parking lot of a nearby restaurant, Special Agent Paul McCabe said.

In the Roseville holdup, McCabe said, the man showed a teller a handgun and demanded money. The suspect, in the same style of parka that was described in Thursday's robbery, stuffed the cash into a light-colored portfolio he had with him and left on foot.

Anyone with information regarding this suspect is asked to contact the FBI at 612-376-3200, the Minneapolis Police Department, or Crime Stoppers. A reward is offered for information leading to the arrest and indictment of this bank robber.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482