A trucker suspected of bank robbery in Michigan died during a police standoff at a truck stop in Illinois.
The bank robbery occurred shortly after 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 6, in Shelby Township, Michigan.
According to the Shelby Township Police Department, officers responded to a Bank of America for a reported robbery. Employees told police that a male suspect entered the bank, approached a teller, and passed a note demanding money, then fled.
Officers were not immediately able to locate the suspect.
After reviewing surveillance video, officers determined that “once the suspect fled the bank, he got on a motorized scooter which he had parked near the bank. The suspect then drove the scooter to a semi-truck he had parked in the area. The suspect then fled the area inside of the semi-truck.”
Police were able to identify the truck as belonging to an Illinois-based company. They were also able to identify the suspect as a 33 year old Georgia resident.
Police were able to track the suspect semi truck to Effingham on Friday, March 7.
The Shelby Township Police Department asked for assistance from the Effingham Police Department.
Officers located the truck at a TA store in Effingham and disabled the suspect’s semi truck at the truck stop.
The suspect resisted arrest and barricaded himself inside the truck with a gun, according to police.
“The Effingham County Sheriff’s Department and the Illinois State Police SWAT Team and Crisis Negotiating Team were called to assist. After nearly an 8-hour standoff, negotiations failed, and the suspect took his own life,” the Shelby Township Police Department said.
“Make no mistake about it – if you come to Shelby Township to commit a crime, our department will track you down no matter where you try to hide,” said Shelby Township Police Chief Robert Shelide.