Federal prosecutors have charged a 36-year-old convicted bank robber with holding up a North End bank branch last month.

Ezekiel T. Black is being detained at the federal detention center in SeaTac. He's been charged federally with one count of bank robbery for the July 6 holdup at Key Bank, 3917 N. 26th St.

The bank branch was robbed about 3:20 p.m. July 6. The bandit approached a teller and whispered, "This is a robbery. Remain calm," according to court documents. The robber fled after getting cash.

Tacoma police released to the media surveillance photos of the robbery suspect.

During the investigation, Black was developed as a possible suspect. He was contacted July 24 at his home and arrested after a short foot pursuit, charging documents state.

The Key Bank teller, Black's Department of Corrections community corrections officer and Black's girlfriend identified Black as the man in surveillance photos from the Key Bank robbery.

At the time of the Key Bank heist, Black was on federal probation for a previous bank robbery conviction. There also was a warrant for his arrest out of Texas.

A 20-year-old man was arrested Wednesday afternoon for reportedly robbing a bank in downtown Auburn and running from officers.

At about 11:30 a.m., the man walked into the Key Bank at 15 Auburn Ave., and used a note to demand money from the teller. He left with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Within about 10 minutes, responding officers spotted the suspect. As they tried to contact the man, he ran. He was arrested east of downtown and the money was recovered. He is being held in the Auburn jail on suspicion of second-degree robbery.

Tacoma police detectives are thanking a man who helped them catch a bank robbery earlier this year.

The department gave George Rodkey a Certificate of Merit today for his efforts April 27.

According to detectives, Rodkey was inside Key Bank, 1120 S. 11 St., when it was robbed. The robber left the bank and got into a vehicle.

Rodkey followed the robber outside and got the license plate number of the getaway vehicle. He provided the information to officers.

Officers found the vehicle and arrested the two occupants, one of whom tried to run from officers, police department.

"Due to the diligence of Mr. Rodkey, who went beyond the level of being a simple witness to the robbery, a dangerous bank robber and his 'getaway driver' were arrested and taken off the street," the department citation reads. "For his invaluable assistance, the Tacoma Police Department is proud to present George Rodkey with the Certificate of Merit."

Tacoma police detective Tim Griffith said the department doesn't normally want citizens to put themselves in danger. However, Rodkey's information "made a huge impact," Griffith said.

"It isn't often that we encounter citizens willing to take such a dramatic step to help," Griffith said. "The people of Tacoma should be grateful that there are people like Mr. Rodkey living here."

Tacoma police are searching for a man who robbed a North End bank branch on Monday afternoon.

Detectives have released surveillance photos of the robber (seen here) in hopes of identifying him. Tacoma-Pierce County Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest and charges filed in the heist. Tipsters may remain anonymous. Call Crime Stoppers at 253-591-5959.

The robbery occurred about 3:30 p.m. Monday at the Rainier Pacific Bank, 2525 N. Proctor St., police reported.

The man walked into the bank and put an envelope on the counter in front of a teller. The man leaned forward and, in a whisper, demanded cash from the teller, police reported.

The cash was put into the envelope and the robber fled on foot.

The robber is described as white, in his 40s and 5 feet 11 with an unshaven appearance. He sported a goatee-type beard and short, brown hair during Monday's heist. The robber wore a blue-and-black baseball hat with a black leather A on the front, sunglasses, a black T-shirt and dark blue jeans.

Investigators suspect the robber is the same man who hit the Key Bank at 3917 N. 26th St. on the afternoon of July 6.

That suspect was described as a white male in his 40s, about 5-foot-10 with medium to heavy build and was wearing a long-sleeved beige sweatshirt, grayish blue hat, blue jeans, glasses and was unshaven. He had dark colored hair.

Here's the surveillance photo released of the bank robber from the July 6 Key Bank robbery.

A 46-year-old man wanted in connection with a Tacoma bank robbery turned himself into police Wednesday afternoon.

Kenneth Wolfe was booked into Pierce County Jail on one charge of first-degree robbery. He'll make his first court appearance this afternoon.

Prosecutors had previously charged Wolfe in the June 26 heist at Timberland Bank, 7805 S. Hosmer St. He also is a person of interest in the robbery July 6 at KeyBank at 3917 N. 26th St.

An arrest warrant had been issued last week and Wolfe's photograph released to the media.

On Wednesday afternoon, Wolfe called Tacoma police and said he wanted to turn himself in. Within five minutes, he showed up at the Yelm Police Department, Tacoma police reported.

A patrol car brought Wolfe to Tacoma, where he was booked into the jail.

Wolfe

Tacoma Police have identified the man wanted for two bank robberies in the city.

Kenneth M. Wolfe, 46, is wanted for the robbery of the Timberland Bank at 7805 S. Hosmer St. on June 26 and of the Key Bank, 3917 N. 26th St., on Monday. Police say in the first robbery he whispered to the teller, demanded cash and implied that he had a gun.

He is reportedly driving a black 2000 Ford Focus, Washington license plate number 174-VZM.

Wolfe is described as 6-foot tall, 210 pounds with gray and brown hair and a mustache. He is known to frequent the Graham and Spanaway area.

Tacoma/Pierce County Crimestoppers are offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to his arrest. Anyone with information should call 253-591-5959. All callers remain anonymous.

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Tacoma Police are looking for another man who robbed the Stadium District Columbia Bank at gunpoint Wednesday afternoon.

Police spokesman Mark Fulghum said the man came into the bank, 601 N. 1st, at about 2:10 p.m., showed a gun and demanded money. He reportedly tried to get money out of an ATM outside the building, gave up and went inside. He left on foot and police have set up a containment in the area.

The man is described as a white male in his 20s, who was seen wearing aviator sunglasses, a white baseball hat, a white T-shirt and blue jeans.

This robbery is not connected to other recent ones in the Tacoma area, Fulghum said.

Tacoma police continue to investigate two bank robberies in the city's North End just minutes apart on Monday.

No arrests have been reported in either. Detectives are investigating whether surveillance images of the robbers were available. None have been released so far.

Tacoma police investigators do believe the man who hit the Key Bank, 3917 N. 26th St., is likely the same person who robbed a Timberland Bank in the South End on June 26.

Investigators also suspect the man who robbed the Columbia Bank, 5727 N. 21st St., might be the same person who tried to rob a Bank of America branch in Renton several hours earlier Monday.

The descriptions of the two robbers were identified, police reported.

The number of bank robberies in the United States dropped last year, according to statistics released today by the FBI.

There were 6,700 bank robberies in 2008, down from 6,849 in 2007. In Washington, bank robberies were down 13 percent in 2008 from the year before - 153 compared to 176, according to the FBI. Tacoma police investigated nine bank heists in 2008, down from 16 in 2007.

The federal agency also reports:

* The total amount taken was valued at more than $61.9 million.

* A note was used in 3,833 incidents; a firearm was used in 1,734 incidents; and robbers threatened the use of a weapon in 2,839 incidents.

* Acts of violence were committed during 293 (4 percent) of the reported incidents. These acts included 78 instances involving the discharge of firearms, 171 instances involving assaults, and 53 instances of hostage situations.

* Twenty-one deaths occurred during this reporting period, including 17 perpetrators, one employee, and three deaths classified as "other." No law enforcement officers were killed responding to bank crimes incidents in 2008.

* Most violations occurred on Friday. Regardless of the day of the week, violations between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. were the most common.

Tacoma Police are responding to an armed robbery at Columbia Bank, 5727 N. 21st St.

The suspect reportedly left on foot on 21st Street with money in his pockets, according to scanner chatter. He is described as a black male, about 6-foot tall with a thin build, no facial hair and was wearing a dark-colored baseball cap, black coat and jeans.

The robber used a note. He did not show or imply he had a weapon, police spokesman Mark Fulghum said. He took an undisclosed amount of money, put it in his pocket and fled.

This robbery was reported at 3:09 p.m.

UPDATE: Police are also responding to a robbery at Key Bank on 3917 N. 26th Street. The suspect in this robbery is described as a white male in his 40s, about 5-foot-10 with medium to heavy build and was wearing a long-sleeved beige sweatshirt, grayish blue hat, blue jeans, glasses and was unshaven. He had dark colored hair.

This second robbery was reported at 3:25 p.m. The robber demanded cash from the bank but did not show or imply a weapon. He put an undisclosed amount of cash in his pocket and fled, Fulghum said.

Officers and detectives were responding to both scenes.

Pierce County prosecutors have filed charges against a man accused of robbing a Fife bank on Tuesday, then halting the heist and eventually surrendering to police.

Kenneth Dell Haley, 41, was charged Wednesday with first-degree robbery and threatening to bomb or injure property. He's been ordered held in Pierce County Jail in lieu of $150,000 bail.

Haley told investigators that he had a severe gambling problem.

"If I get locked up, I can't gamble," he told detectives, according to court documents.

Charging documents provide the following information:

Prosecutors allege Haley went to the Bank of America, 5003 Pacific Highway East, on Tuesday morning and handed the teller a note. The note indicated he had a bomb and wanted cash. Haley toted a bag with him.

The teller put an undisclosed amount of cash in a plastic bag and handed it to Haley.

"Haley told bank employees that there was no bomb and he was not going to leave; instead he would wait for police," court documents state.

Haley didn't leave and made several movements inside the bank. The police were called and the employees evacuated the bank.

After police arrived, Haley was directed outside. He surrendered without incident. Police removed Haley's bag from the bank and disrupted it. They discovered the bag contained Haley's personal belongings.

The stolen cash was also recovered.

Law enforcement officers have taken a suspected bank robber into custody after the man was holed up inside a Fife bank with up a bag that he said contains an explosive device.

KOMO carried a live video feed of the arrest. The man had come out of the bank, had his hands raised and was taken into custody without further incident.

The Pierce County Sheriff's and Tacoma Police bomb squads worked to remove the suspicious bag. The bag was disrupted and investigators found only towels and other personal belongings inside. The stolen money also was recovered.

The 41-year-old suspect was being interviewed by detectives and will be booked into Pierce County Jail on robbery charges. Investigators believe he lost his job last week and was a gambler. He also had suicidal thoughts, Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said. Investigators were trying to track down the man's family.

No injuries were reported during the incident.

All employees of the Bank of America and any customers inside at the time of the robbery have been evacuated, Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said. None were injured.

Troyer said the incident began around 10:15 a.m. when the man walked into the branch in the 5000 block of Pacific Highway East. He carried a bag and told tellers he had a bomb. He demanded money.

The robber got an undisclosed amount of cash, then something went sideways, Troyer said. The bank robber started acting strangely and remained in the bank.

Bank employees called police. Fife officers evacuated the bank except for the robber.

Surrounding businesses also were evacuated and the streets were closed off to traffic. Fife police had the bank surrounded. Puyallup and Tacoma police as well as Pierce County sheriff's deputies responded.

More than an hour later, Fife officers were able to talk the man outside, where he was taken into custody without further incident.

"We're lucky this thing ended the way it did," Troyer said. "It could have sure turned out differently."

The state Department of Transportation briefly closed the off-ramps from southbound and northbound Interstate 5 to 54th Avenue due to police activity.

Investigators do not believe the suspect is the same man who robbed a Tacoma bank branch on Friday evening, Troyer said.

Photo courtesy of Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer.

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