Bank robbery tip leads to Arlington man

Published 10:12 pm Wednesday, December 17, 2008

ARLINGTON — An anonymous tip early Wednesday led to the arrest of an Arlington man who police believe robbed a bank a few hours earlier.

Officers took the 20-year-old into custody Wednesday morning at his home in the 200 block of N. Gifford Avenue, Arlington city spokeswoman Kristin Banfield said.

“Arlington police would like to thank the public for their assistance in identifying the suspect,” she said.

About 1 p.m. Tuesday, a man walked into the Key Bank in the 500 block of N. Olympic Avenue and demanded money from a teller.

The robber displayed no weapons during the heist.

Police recovered most of the money — about $2,000 — that the man allegedly took in the holdup, Banfield said.

Later Tuesday, police released surveillance photos and a police sketch of the suspect. The person who tipped off police recognized the suspect from the sketch and the photos, Banfield said.

Detectives believe the suspect also was involved in a scuffle with police in August that left an officer with minor injuries, she said.

The man was booked Wednesday into Snohomish County Jail for investigation of first-degree robbery and third-degree assault.

He is expected to go before a judge today.

Reporter Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437 or jholtz@heraldnet.com.