St. Paul teller refuses armed bank robber's demands

The gunman fled Tuesday without any money, but authorities cautioned against defying such requests.

By PAUL WALSH, Star Tribune

Last update: October 21, 2009 - 8:53 PM

With her life perhaps just a squeeze of a trigger from ending, federal authorities say, a St. Paul bank teller refused to hand over cash to a gunman.

But the suspect, rather than firing the black handgun he had aimed at the teller after she rejected his demands for money, fled on foot without a nickel more than he had when he entered the bank Tuesday afternoon.

The FBI describes the serial bank robbery suspect who tried to hold up Bank Cherokee at 607 S. Smith Av. as white, in his 30s, 5 feet 8 to 6 feet tall, with a slender to medium build. He was wearing a black coat, blue jeans, a white bandanna around his face and a red baseball cap.

Less than 24 hours later, the FBI suspects, the same gunman struck again. The First State Bank of Rosemount at 3025 145th St. W. was held up about 11 a.m. Wednesday. As in the Cherokee stickup, he pointed a black handgun at the teller, had his face covered with a white bandanna and demanded cash. This time, the teller did as she was ordered, the FBI said. The man again fled on foot.

Authorities cautioned against defying armed robbers. "The general recommendation is to always err on the side of personal safety," St. Paul police spokesman Paul Schnell said. "If there is a demand for something, property in particular, it's best to comply with their request. Sometimes, they respond as this man did, but sometimes they don't."

Heidi Gesell, CEO of the 101-year-old Bank Cherokee, defended her teller, challenging the account of what happened, but not offering her own version of events.

"How dare you print something critical of a teller until you have had a gun waved into your face," Gesell said Wednesday afternoon. "You cannot begin to understand what she went through."

The federal Bank Protection Act requires all bank employees and officers "be trained annually on proper procedures for robberies, larcenies and burglaries," according to Tony Brissette, a consultant in Massachusetts who specializes in bank security training. Brissette said that "arguing, confronting or attempting to talk the robber out of the crime will increase the likelihood that others will become aware a robbery is in progress and escalate the level of danger."

The suspect in Tuesday's attempted robbery and Wednesday's Rosemount heist may have had richer results during prior holdups recently around the metro area.

"We're looking at maybe five right now," Minneapolis Special Agent E.K. Wilson said. "I know that in at least some of them, he did [have a gun] or something he made to look like a gun."

Anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI at 612-376-3200, St. Paul police at 651-291-1111 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

A reward is offered for information leading to an arrest and indictment.

Star Tribune staff writer Tony Lonetree contributed to this report.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482