Picture from Mattoon Walmart incident, May 31, 2019. Photo submitted by Mattoon Police Department.
For Immediate Release – Press Release from the Mattoon Police Department
Wal-Mart Incident 5/31/19 Bank Robbery Suspect
On Friday May 31st at 3:32 p.m. Mattoon police were dispatched to the Wood Forest Bank within Wal-Mart at 101 Dettro Drive. An employee at said bank noticed a suspect within Wal-Mart that matched the description of a suspect that had robbed the WFB in Shelbyville, Indiana earlier in the day. Said suspect was standing near cash registers within Wal-Mart while observing WFB employees. An employee within WFB made eye contact with the unknown suspect and immediately recognized him as the person who likely robbed the bank in Indiana due to internal WFB email circulating pics of the suspect.
The suspect at the Mattoon WFB was holding a manila envelope (which he also carried during the IN robbery). The WFB employee who witnessed the suspect said they believed they raised their eyebrows upon making eye contact with the suspect, due to being shocked to see him near their facility. (It is believed that this likely prevented the suspect from committing a robbery at the Mattoon WFB).
In any event, WFB made contact with their corporate office and reported their suspicions—that a suspect who robbed the WFB in Indiana was now present at their Mattoon branch. Corporate then reported the matter to local police and officers were dispatched. While officers were responding, they were then somehow advised that the WFB bank within Wal-Mart was actually being robbed. As such, numerous units responded to the Wal-Mart and police were stationed at the exits until it could be determined what was actually occurring.
Upon sorting things out and observing Wal-Mart video, it was determined that the suspect exited Wal-Mart one (1) minute before police were actually dispatched (all of which was unknown during the time of the actual call, it was reported that the suspect was within Wal-Mart). As you can see from the attached, clearer image, the suspect is carrying a manila envelope. His blue vehicle also matches the car at the Indiana WFB branch.
The suspect was described as a WM, 25-30 yoa, 5’8-5’10, 210-230 lbs. He left the area in a blue car, possibly a Ford Taurus, unknown plate.
The incident at Wal-Mart took about 30 minutes. It is not known whether the suspect was armed.
Area police then checked all banks within Mattoon for the presence of the suspect vehicle to no avail. Images of the suspect were distributed to area law enforcement to see if anyone recognized the suspect as being local—and as such we refrained from making a press release. MPD also coordinated with Ofc. Bill Dwenger of the Shelbyville, IN PD (317-392-5108). Ofc. Dwenger later infomed the MPD that he has been in contact with the FBI and learned that the suspect had allegedly robbed one (1) bank in North Carolina and two (2) in Tennessee prior to robbing the Indiana branch.
MPD will not be releasing the name of the employee who observed the suspect.
The MPD portion of this investigation is ending. It does not appear that the suspect was local and we have no leads. However, we would ask the public to report any possible contact one may have had with said suspect, whether getting gas at a local gas station, going through a drive-up, or possibly speaking with him somewhere in town.
Picture from Mattoon Walmart incident, May 31, 2019. Photo submitted by Mattoon Police Department.
Picture from Mattoon Walmart incident, May 31, 2019. Photo submitted by Mattoon Police Department.
Picture from Mattoon Walmart incident, May 31, 2019. Photo submitted by Mattoon Police Department.
