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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sirens & Gavels

2 banks robbed within 90 minutes Monday

A robbery suspect was arrested less than 90 minutes after police say he stole money from a bank at gunpoint Monday. The arrest occurred about the same time a holdup was reported at a Spokane bank.

Police reviewing surveillance footage from Washington Trust bank at 301 N. Argonne Road recognized Jesse R. Adams, 43, from a domestic incident investigation on April 14, according to a news release.

Adams was arrested after Officers Chan Erdman and Brett Hubbell spotted him walking through the parking lot at his apartment complex, 10101 E. Main Ave. Police say Adams had a handgun when he walked into the bank at 4:30 p.m., handed a teller a bag, then left with cash.

Adams, who has previous felony convictions for theft and forgery, was booked into jail and is due in Superior Court today on a first-degree robbery charge.

Investigators recovered the stolen money, the suspect’s clothing and the weapon used in the robbery, according to a news release. Police say the robbery is not related to a robbery that occurred at 6 p.m. Monday at Chase Bank, 2215 W. Northwest Blvd.

In that case, an armed man wearing a red ski mask left with an undisclosed amount of cash and appeared to possess a keen understanding of how banks operate, authorities said.

The robber, described as a 5-foot-6 white man with a medium build, held an unspecified weapon at his side and had the manager with him as he told Chase bank tellers at 2215 W. Northwest Blvd. to fill a backpack with cash, according to the Spokane Police Department.

The robber asked for specific cash draws and appeared to know which types of money packs could be tracked, police said.

The weapon was never pointed at anyone during the 5:59 p.m. holdup and no injuries were reported, police said.

The robber fled the bank on foot to the west. The robbery is being investigated by Spokane police and the FBI.



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