Police: Bank robbery suspect claims other heists

Last update: November 2, 2009 - 11:13 PM

A South St. Paul man charged Monday with robbing a credit union there told authorities he had held up six banks, according to a criminal complaint.

Steven Lee Olson, 47, was arrested Friday after a chase by car and on foot involving South St. Paul, Inver Grove Heights and West St. Paul police, the FBI said Monday. He is to appear in U.S. District Court today.

According to the complaint:

About 5 p.m. Friday, Olson went to the Wakota Federal Credit Union, 1151 Southview Blvd. Wearing a red jacket with the hood up and a red bandana over his face, he pointed a gun at a teller and demanded money. That teller was too scared, the complaint said, so another handed over more than $1,500.

Someone using an ATM saw the robbery and followed Olson to a white Dodge Intrepid behind an apartment complex. The witness called police, who pursued and arrested Olson after a two-mile chase.

In an interview, Olson told authorities he had been behind two robberies in South St. Paul, as well as ones in Inver Grove Heights, Hudson, Wis., Rosemount and one on University Avenue in Minneapolis or St. Paul, the complaint said.

Vince Tuss

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