A bank robbery suspect who was shot at by a Baltimore County police officer was taken into custody yesterday after a three-hour standoff at a Northeast Baltimore apartment complex.
The incident began about 11 a.m. yesterday when a man entered the Bank of America branch in the 6700 block of York Road in Rodgers Forge and demanded money from a teller, said Cpl. Vickie Warehime, a county police spokeswoman.
Warehime said the man fled with an undisclosed amount of money and apparently got into a waiting blue van that was being driven by another man.
About three minutes later, Baltimore County police Officer Gary Lippa saw a van driving erratically near the bank and followed it to Loch Raven Boulevard and Northern Parkway. Lippa pulled the van over, and while approaching it saw a man who matched the description of the bank robbery suspect lying in the back of the vehicle, Warehime said.
As Lippa called for assistance, the driver of the van sped off, leading the officer on a brief high-speed chase through the parking lot of Loch Raven Shopping Center.
The van stopped at Fenwick Apartments in the 6200 block of Loch Raven Blvd. The passenger fled, but the driver remained in the van and was taken into custody.
Lippa fired at the fleeing man, who was armed with a handgun, while chasing him across the parking lot, Warehime said.
Warehime said officials are trying to determine whether the suspect fired his weapon.
The man ran into the apartment complex, which was later surrounded by Baltimore City and Baltimore County tactical officers. Loch Raven Boulevard was closed for about three hours.
Agent Angelique Cook-Hayes, a Baltimore police spokeswoman, said the man was apprehended about 2:45 p.m. in the basement of the complex and was turned over to Baltimore County police.
He was not injured. Warehime said a handgun and money were recovered. Police did not release the identities of the suspects.
Police are investigating what role, if any, the driver had in the robbery, Warehime said.
Lippa has been placed on routine administrative leave while authorities investigate the shooting. Warehime said the man arrested in the apartment basement is a suspect in three other bank robberies in Baltimore City and Baltimore County. He has not been charged in yesterday's incident.
