North Cascades Bank robbery suspect apprehended

OKANOGAN – A suspect who said he was just released from jail and robbed the Okanogan branch of North Cascades Bank of some cash to pay for his way out of town is, instead, back where he started.

The Okanogan County Sheriff reports that a lone suspect approached a teller at the bank at approximately 9:42 a.m., Wednesday, March 8, and demanded a specific amount of money. He told the teller he had a gun although no weapon was observed. He obtained a small amount of cash and left the bank.

“Within minutes Sgt. Tony Hawley of the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office observed a person matching the description wearing clothing described by bank employees,” the report said. “Sgt. Hawley was able to apprehend the robber, at which time the money that had been taken during the robbery, was also recovered.”

At the time of his arrest the suspect told Sgt. Hawley that he did not have a name.

Bank employees said that the same person had been in the bank the previous day and told them that he had just gotten out of jail and was trying to leave town.