Hammond Bank Robber Suspected in Multiple Robberies Leads Police on a 3-City High-Speed Chase

Photo from RegionNewsSource.org of 165th Street and Calumet Avenue, where high-speed chase ended.

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The search is over for the Hammond, Indiana man suspected of robbing at least two banks. However, he didn’t go without a three-city high-speed chase.

What Happened

On Wednesday, April 8, a Hammond police officer spotted the suspect’s car on Kennedy Avenue near Corinne Drive in Hammond. That officer alerted dispatch, and a plan was put into motion to take the suspect down. This came after investigators linked the suspect’s vehicle to two prior banks robberies. They both had one unique feature that connected them.

On Wednesday, March 25, a man in a gray hoodie and sunglasses allegedly walked into the Horizon Bank, located at 9292 Calumet Avenue, Munster, IN. He strolled past the lobby and went directly to the teller station. Then, he did something he would make a signature of his robberies.

Reports claim he slid the teller a note. The note allegedly mentioned that he had a gun and wanted “all the money” from the drawer. Throughout the robbery, the suspect kept one hand in his sweatshirt pocket to look like a gun. (Prosecutors classify this as an “implied threat.”) Fearing for their life, the teller followed protocol for an armed robbery. And the bank robber kept his cool.

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After receiving the money, the robber didn’t run. He walked out the front door at a normal pace to avoid drawing attention from people in the parking lot. He was seen getting into a dark-colored sedan and heading southbound on Calumet Avenue toward the Hammond border. Police say he didn’t stop there.

On Tuesday, March 31, investigators say he robbed Centier Bank in Hammond. This was less than a week after the first hit. Between those heists, investigators were building a profile. It took the work of three law enforcement agencies to do the work that led to the suspect’s successful capture.

The FBI out of their Merrillville Field Office, the Hammond Police Department and the Munster Police Department all collaborated on this set of robberies. They gathered the prewritten hand notes, surveillance footage and the plate numbers.

On the day of the arrest, police allegedly attempted to pull the suspect over. Instead of stopping, he took them on a three-city chase through Hammond, Munster and Highland. The chase finally ended at 165th Street and Calumet Avenue, where he was boxed in and arrested. Police say they found some of the money from the robberies. Reports claim the suspect was in the area to commit another bank hit. The identity of the suspect has not been released. However, he’s been described as a “Hammond, Indiana” man in local reports.

The Aftermath

The suspect faces significant federal felony charges due to the nature of the “implied weapon.” Because showing a pistol and claiming to have one during a felony causes the same mental stress to the victim, they are treated nearly the same in the eyes of the law.

Currently, the man is charged with two counts of Bank Robbery with Intimidation. He also has some enhancements. That puts his potential minimum sentence at 25 — 30 years.

The Takeaway

The suspect in this case is scheduled for an initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Hammond Federal Courthouse tomorrow, Friday, April 10. This is where the judge will decide on his detention before trial. Because of the implied weapon, the Feds will likely push for him to be held without bail. Stay tuned for the new details.

Jermaine Reed, MFA is an educator and the Editor-in-Chief of TheReedersBlock. Take time to Subscribe. It helps promote independent journalism and the site. Follow him on TikTok, where he has over 9 million views and nearly 1 million likes. Help him get there.

NO HUSTLE LIKE HERS