A man suspecting of robbing a Hayden bank while armed with a hatchet was arrested Monday night and charged with robbery and burglary.

The North Idaho Violent Crimes Task Force quickly identified the suspect, Charles Ray Bartkowiak of Hayden, after release of bank surveillance photos generated numerous tips Monday.

Bartkowiak, 34, allegedly entered Bank CDA shortly before 4 p.m. Monday, showed a teller the hatchet and left with an undisclosed sum of money. The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene after a robbery alarm had been triggered.

The task force went to Bartkowiak’s residence in Hayden and discovered the getaway car with the hatchet and stolen cash in the vehicle. The suspect was not at home.

Around 10:30 p.m. Monday, while investigators were serving a search warrant on Bartkowiak’s home, they were advised a suspicious man was seen in a neighbor’s yard. They located Bartkowiak in the yard and took him into custody without incident.

Bartkowiak has an extensive criminal history in Kootenai County dating back to 1999. He previously was charged with battery, stalking, forgery, fraudulent use of a bank card, violation of a protection order, possession of a controlled substance, possession of paraphernalia, driving while suspended, displaying fictitious license plates, inattentive driving, and probation violations.

He is being held on a $100,000 bond at the Kootenai County Jail/Scott Maben, SR.

 

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