Bank Robbery Spree In Pinellas County Ends With Arrest: Police

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office and St. Petersburg Police Department has identified and arrested a 51-year-old suspect who they say is responsible for at least two bank robberies—one in St. Petersburg and one in Seminole that took place during a three-day time span, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office news release said.

Charles Combs was questioned by detectives with PCSO at St. Petersburg Police Department on Thursday after St. Pete Police arrested him following a car crash after he fled a bank robbery on Thursday morning, and shot at an officer who tried to pull him over, said authorities. The robbery took place at Mid Florida Credit Union in the 2600 block of Fourth Street North.

Combs confessed a robbery to authorities that took place on August 3, at First Citizens Bank located in Seminole at 13700 Park Blvd., N, investigators said.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said Combs is charged with armed robbery by the agency.

He also faces charges from the St. Petersburg Police Department of attempted murder, fleeing and eluding a police officer, leaving the scene of a crash, reckless driving with property damage, felon in possession of a firearm and robbery, said officials.

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A man was arrested following a car crash after he fled a bank robbery and shot at an officer who tried to pull him over Thursday morning, a St. Petersburg police news release said.

Police said the man, whose identity has not been released at this time by St. Pete police, robbed the Mid Florida Credit Union at about 10:30 a.m. The bank is located at 2646 Fourth Street North.

The robber took an undisclosed amount of cash from the bank, and then left in a Toyota Corolla.

Law enforcement noticed his car and initiated a traffic stop, and police say that is when the suspect pointed a gun at the officer and shot at least once toward the officer.

The bullet missed the officer and hit a work van that passed in the area, authorities said. No one was hurt.

Shortly afterwards, the suspect crashed on 22nd Avenue North near the Interstate-275 ramp. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.

Police arrested the suspect.

St. Pete police has not released information on the charges, mugshot or suspect's identity.

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