Man charged in Wells Fargo robbery
CHINLE
Thirty-nine-year-old Cristobal Andres, address unknown, has been charged in connection with the robbery of $1,833 from the Wells Fargo Bank in Chinle Monday.
Andres is charged with one count of bank robbery, a federal offense.
According to the complaint filed in U.S. District Court, Flagstaff, by FBI Special Agent Ryan C. Thornton, a man matching Andres’ description walked into the bank about 11 a.m. and handed a teller a note demanding all the money in the cash drawer. She gave it to him while her supervisor attempted to activate the silent alarm with her foot, but the alarm didn’t work.
After the robber took off in a red SUV the bank staff called police who responded and secured the scene.
A series of tips by witnesses eventually led police to a home north of Chinle, where the occupant told police Andres had left about 45 minutes prior. However, after searching the property police located Andres about 6 p.m. lying in a patch of brush just beyond the property, according to the complaint.
Police recovered $230 from Andres and detained him. After the arrest, a large amount of cash was found in a high-traffic area the police had already searched. The occupant of the house could offer no explanation as to how the money appeared. Another $200 was found about 40 yards from Andres’ hiding place.
Andres allegedly confessed to the crime, but said he was put up to it by other individuals. He was given the note by someone, he said, and did not know what it said. Andres allegedly told Thornton he thought he was “running an errand,” not robbing a bank.
He is being held at the Coconino County Detention Center in Flagstaff pending arraignment in U.S. District Court.
A more detailed story will appear in tomorrow’s Navajo Times.
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Highway 264,
I-40, WB @ Winslow