Bank Robber Crashes, Tries To Swim Across Chicago River: Cops

BERWYN, IL — A Berwyn man was charged with robbing a bank in Chicago after he crashed his car in a forest preserve and then attempted to swim across the Chicago River Thursday. Daniel Torres allegedly wrote a note to the teller saying he had a gun before leaving with $1,351 from the Bank of America at 6665 N. Northwest Hwy. in Chicago. Authorities were able to catch up with Torres via a tracking device.

According to the complaint, Torres walked into the bank just before 5 p.m. and allegedly handed a teller a note that read, "You are being robbed. Please be silent. I have a gun. I only want is [sic] bundles of 100, 50, 20s only. I know you have a second drawer. Please only 100, 50, 20s. Don't press alarm."

The complaint states that then teller pressed the silent alarm. Torres allegedly said, "Give me the money. Come on; I have a weapon."

After the teller gave cash to Torres and told him it was all they had. He allegedly responded, "You have the key." They told Torres they did not have a key. They then handed Torres a bunch of twenties that contained a tracking device.

After Torres exited the bank, the FBI got an alert that a tracking device had been activated in the vicinity. The FBI used the live tracking system to alert Chicago Police of Torres's location. Police had also responded to the bank's original alarm call and were told the suspect was a white male wearing a tan hat and a black jacket.

Police tracked down Torres, who matched the description of the suspect, driving a white Acura SUV. Torres is accused of fleeing when police attempted to pull him over. During the police chase, Torres reportedly turned onto a bike path in a nearby forest preserve and crashed.

Police say Torres got out and fled on foot, then tried to cross the Chicago River. Upon realizing he couldn't get across, Torres turned around and went back to the river's west bank, where police were waiting to take him into custody.

Torres was later transferred to the FBI's Chicago location, where he confessed, police say.

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