Bank Robbery Suspect's Escape Thwarted by Cops

BRADENTON, FL – A 30-year-old Sarasota man faces a number of charges after Bradenton Police officers identified him as the prime suspect in a Tuesday morning robbery at a Wells Fargo Bank branch.

According to the police department, the robbery at 1700 59th St. W. occurred around 9:22 a.m. A man walked into the branch, handed the teller a note and demanded money. The teller handed over cash and the man walked out and fled in a vehicle parked nearby.

When officers and members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crimes Task Force arrived on the scene, they got a description of the man and his vehicle and issued a BOLO. It didn’t take long for the BOLO to pay off with a sighting of the suspect’s vehicle, the police department noted in a media release.

Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but its driver fled into Palmetto. Once there, the man bailed out of the car, but was caught after a short foot pursuit.

Brian Schmidt now faces robbery and fleeing and eluding charges, the police department said. He was being held in the Manatee County Jail Wednesday without bond.

Booking photo courtesy of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office