The Fort Walton Beach Police Department has arrested a man for Attempted Armed Robbery and Robbery after two banks were allegedly targeted on Thursday afternoon.
At approximately 2:01 p.m., Fort Walton Beach police officers responded to First National Bank and Trust located at 29 Eglin Parkway NE, regarding an attempted armed robbery.
The male suspect entered the bank and presented a note to the teller demanding money. The male had an electronic weapon concealed in his clothing at the time and sparked it in an apparent attempt to get what he wanted. The teller was unable to fulfill his request and the suspect fled the scene.
While officers were investigating the first robbery, a second bank robbery was reported at the United Fidelity Bank, located at 135 Perry Avenue SE, in Fort Walton Beach.
- The same suspect entered the bank and presented a note demanding money.
- He fled from the bank with an undisclosed amount of money and was wearing different clothing at the time.
Later this evening, an alert Fort Walton Beach PD Patrol Sergeant located the suspect in the lobby of the Quality Inn located at 322 Miracle Strip Parkway SW in Fort Walton Beach.
- He was wearing clothing similar to that of the robbery suspect and possessed the same color mask worn in the second robbery at the time he was arrested.
- Evidence recovered during the investigation of both robberies has linked the suspect to them.
These cases are still under active investigation. The Fort Walton Beach Police Department is asking anyone with information regarding these robberies to please call Detective Eric Boucher at 850-833-9546 or Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers at 850-863-8477.
