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Four Detained For Questioning In Early Morning Bank Robbery

Posted at 3:21 PM, May 13, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-13 17:27:01-04

LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18)– Lexington Police say they have detained four people for questioning after an early morning bank robbery.

The robbery happened just after 9 a.m. Monday at the Central Bank on West New Circle Road. Officials say a man entered the bank wearing a gray hoodie and mask, displayed a handgun, took cash, and fled in a red minivan.

The vehicle was found a short time later after the suspect allegedly crashed into Aurora Pools & Spa Warehouse, located a few blocks away from the bank.

In an odd turn of events, the owner of Aurora Pools told LEX 18 that the van had been left in his parking lot for several days. He had telephoned the police, who told him the van had been stolen and he had arranged for the owner to come pick it up.

He assumes that the suspects came back to get the van to use it for the robbery this morning, before the owner came to pick it up, and then drove it back to the business where it crashed into the storefront.

Cash was reportedly found on the ground near the van.

Police tell LEX 18 that they encountered a car with four people in it on the interstate and one of the people inside matched the description of the bank robbery suspect. That person ran out of the car and the three others were detained.

The fourth was later found on New Orleans Drive in a shed after being spotted by a homeowner. Dixie Elementary and Crawford Middle were both on heightened alert.

Police say they aren’t sure of the role of the individual captured but do say the individual has been on police radar for a long time.

During the heightened alert, indoor activities continue as normal, but officials keep students inside the building. Students are in the middle of state testing and FCPS officials want to remind parents that the students are safe inside the building.