'Bomb-Toting' Bank Robbery Suspect in Custody

St. Petersburg Police officers made quick work of a bank robbery reported Monday afternoon.

According to the agency, a man was brought into custody shortly after police received a 3:23 p.m. call about a robbery at the 3100 Central Ave. SunTrust branch.

The crime in question unfolded when a man in his 50s walked into the bank, set a box on the counter and told the teller he had a bomb, an email from the agency to media stated. The man proceeded to say he would detonate the bomb if he didn’t received cash.

The teller complied and the man left the bank, the department wrote.

Police responding to the area found the man on a bike in the parking lot of a nearby Walgreens at Central Avenue and 34th Street.

“He was still possession of the box and cash taken from the bank,” the email said. “The box he had carried into the bank turned out to be empty. He was taken into custody without incident.”

The suspect has been identified as David J. Bartholomew, 50. He now faces bank robbery and other potential charges, the agency said.

All cash from the robbery has been recovered.

“The suspect did present a note to the teller with the threats in writing and that has been recovered, as well,” the email said.

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