Bank Robber "Alabama Band Bandit" Caught

The man suspected of robbing at least five banks last month was arrested today.  Nicknamed the “Alabama Band Bandit,” the 40 year-old Woodinville man was apprehended by the Snohomish County Violent Offender Task Force (SCVOTF) near 128^th St SW and I-5 around 1 p.m.

The suspect was believed responsible for the following bank robberies:

•           Mon, July 7 – Bank of America, Martha Lake Branch, 164th St SW in Lynnwood

•           Fri, July 11 – Whidbey Island Bank, North Seattle Branch, Ballinger Way NE in Shoreline

•           Fri, July 18 – Washington Federal, Meridian Street in Bellingham

•           Fri, July 25 – Washington Federal in Bellingham

•           Wed, July 30 – Wells Fargo on 164th St SW in Lynnwood

Area law enforcement had been on the look-out for the suspect and earlier today a vehicle believed to be associated with the suspect was located in Burlington.  However, the suspect managed to evade authorities and escaped the area. 

Meanwhile, the SCVOTF identified another vehicle associated with the suspect and located that vehicle near the 100 block of 128^th St SE.  When the suspect arrived in the area, the task force attempted to take him into custody.  The suspect fled the area on foot, but was apprehended after a K9 unit tracked him to the 12700 block of 3^rd Ave W.  A gun that the suspect threw during the chase was recovered. 

The suspect has been turned over to the FBI.  He was dubbed the “Alabama Band Bandit” because of the hat he wore during one of the robberies.

Several agencies have been involved in the bank robbery investigation, as well as searching for the suspect, including the FBI’s Seattle Safe Streets Task Force, King County Sheriff’s Office, Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, Bellingham Police, Mt. Vernon Police, Burlington Police and Child Protective Services.

The SCVOTF is a multi-agency unit partnership with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service and Department of Corrections.