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St. Louis Park man charged with five area bank robberies

Suspect allegedly hit a TCF Bank in St. Anthony three times and held up a TCF Bank in St. Louis Park twice, according to indictments brought by a federal grand jury against a Suresh Harlan Small.

By TIM HARLOW, Star Tribune

Last update: May 8, 2008 - 8:39 AM

A man who allegedly held up a bank in St. Anthony at gunpoint and led police on a high-speed chase through the northern Twin Cities suburbs in March has been charged with four additional bank robberies, said Frank Magill, acting United States Attorney.

Suresh Harlan Small is in custody accused of using force, violence and intimidation while robbing a TCF Bank on Silver Lake Road on March 28. After getting an undisclosed amount of cash, he sped away, leading officers on a chase at speeds f nearly 100 miles per hour. Small allegedly exchanged gunfire with officers when he was finally stopped at Interstate Hwy. 494 and Hwy. 55 in Plymouth.

A new indictment filed Wednesday alleges that Small also is responsible for heists at the same TCF bank on Nov. 2 and Jan. 11, as well as holdups on Feb. 1 and March 13 at the TCF Bank at 8020 Hwy. 7 in St. Louis Park. In all four cases, he allegedly used force, violence and intimidation.

Small, 26, of St. Louis Park, faces up to 25 years in prison for each of the five charges.