Puyallup police on Wednesday arrested a 26-year-old bank employee they said robbed a competitor’s branch last week and might be responsible for holding up five other banks in Pierce County.
Officers took the man into custody about 8:30 a.m. when he showed up for work at a bank in the 3700 block of South Meridian Avenue.
The man was arrested after police received a tip after they released surveillance photos from the Aug. 16 holdup of a Bank of America branch at 205 W. Meeker Ave.
The robber handed a teller a note demanding money and claiming a bomb had been planted in the building. After he fled with an undisclosed amount of cash, the bank was evacuated. No explosives were found.
“We feel pretty strongly that he’s responsible for a total of six bank robberies in the area over the last two months,” Puyallup police Capt. Dave McDonald said.
He declined to name the other banks or cities the man is suspected of robbing because they are out of Puyallup’s jurisdiction.
Prosecutors are expected to charge the man today.
Stacia Glenn, staff writer
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