Update: 2nd Bank Robbery Suspect Located and Arrested
Yesterday, Investigators arrested the suspect identified through the investigation as the person who entered the banks and committed the robberies. He was booked into the Spokane County Jail for two counts of Robbery 1st Degree.
Several law enforcement agencies have been working together to identify and locate the suspects involved in three bank robberies, which began on April 19, 2021, at the Wells Fargo Bank in Post Falls, Idaho. The second occurred on April 20, 2021, at Banner Bank in Spokane Valley, and the third, April 23, 2021, at First Interstate Bank in the City of Spokane.
Personnel from the Post Falls Police Department, Spokane Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Spokane Valley Police Department, and the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office have all been working together to identify and arrest these suspects.
On April 27, 2021, at approximately 11:20 am, Spokane Sheriff’s Major Crime Detective Mike Drapeau received information, a bank robbery suspect, 33-year-old Jesse R. Jenkins, was observed walking in the area of Monroe and Broadway. Jenkins was identified through the multi-agency investigation and is the suspect believed to have entered the banks and committed all three robberies.
Investigators from all the agencies, assisted by Spokane Police Patrol Officers, flooded the area to search for Jenkins. A short time later, Jenkins was found hiding in a bathroom stall of a business located on N. Monroe by Detective Drapeau. He was safely taken into custody without further incident.
Jenkins was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for two counts of Robbery 1st Degree for the bank robberies committed in the City of Spokane and City of Spokane Valley. Post Falls Police Detectives have or are preparing to file charges in Kootenai County for the bank robbery in the City of Post Falls.
These bank robberies highlight the fact, people who commit crimes do not recognize or care about jurisdictions or state lines.
We are incredibly thankful for the positive and collaborative working relationships developed between the federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in our area. Day after day, law enforcement in this region continually work together, sharing information and assets, to professionally serve the communities of our region while holding those who choose to commit criminal acts and endanger others accountable.
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Previous Information:
Update: Robbery Suspect Identified and Arrested
On April 21, 2021, Spokane County Patrol Sheriff’s Sergeant Clay Hilton noticed a white Chevrolet truck in the Airway Heights area just after midnight. The vehicle was occupied and matched the vehicle used during the Banner Bank robbery in Spokane Valley on April 20, 2021.
Sergeant Hilton advised dispatch of his suspicion and conducted a traffic stop of the truck. He contacted the driver, identified as 39-year-old Shaun S. Murrell, and learned Murrell’s driving privileges were suspended in Idaho and Washington.
Murrell was arrested for driving while suspended and booked into the Spokane County Jail. With the truck matching the pictures of the getaway vehicle used during the bank robbery, it was seized as evidence pending a search warrant.
The Major Crimes Unit was provided the information regarding the arrest and seizure of the vehicle. Already working the bank robbery investigation, Major Crimes Detective Mike Drapeau began looking into this new evidence and is working to obtain a search warrant for the truck.
Through the continued investigation, Detective Drapeau developed probable cause to charge Murrell with Robbery 1st Degree.
This investigation remains open and active as Detectives believe a second suspect assisted Murrell during the robbery of Banner Bank.
Anyone with information regarding this robbery is asked to call Crime Check at 509-456-2233, reference #10048982.
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Original Press Release:
Detectives Investigate Bank Robbery on E. Sprague
Spokane Valley Deputies searched for the person(s) who robbed the Banner Bank branch on Sprague, near Sullivan, but were unsuccessful.
If you have information regarding this robbery, you are asked to call Crime Check at 509-456-2233, reference #10048982.
This is an active investigation, and no further information is available at this time.
On April 20, 2021, at approximately 4:15 pm., Spokane Valley Deputies began to respond to a holdup alarm at Banner Bank, located 15606 E. Sprague.
During that time, Spokane Regional Emergency Communications (SREC) Dispatchers advised Deputies an employee confirmed the bank was robbed. The suspect was last seen running through the parking lot toward the Dollar Store, possibly to a waiting vehicle.
Deputies arrived quickly and established a perimeter, began a search for the suspect, and interviewed witnesses.
Thankfully, none of the bank employees or customers were injured during the robbery.
The suspect was described as a white, or possibly Hispanic, male, shorter in height (estimate of 5’05”-5’06”) with a slender build. He was wearing a black t-shirt, black jeans, a dark baseball cap, and a facemask. Witness also described dark, arm’s length (full sleeve) tattoos on both the suspect’s arms.
If you have information regarding this robbery, you are asked to call Crime Check at 509-456-2233, reference #10048982.