On Saturday, April 30, 2011, at approximately 2:30 p.m. two armed men wearing masks entered the Bank of America located at 3660 N. Beltline Road and ordered everyone to the ground in a takeover style bank robbery. The men stole money before fleeing in a vehicle.
Irving Officers were dispatched to the bank after receiving numerous calls from witnesses, both inside and outside the bank, reporting that a bank robbery just occurred. Officers responded to the bank and the surrounding area in an attempt to locate the vehicle as it was leaving the area. One of the officers patrollingthe area saw the suspect vehicle fleeing and attempted to stop the vehicle. The suspects fled and a pursuit wasinitiated. The vehicle pursuit ended in Dallas when the suspect vehicle crashed into a light pole. The two suspects fled on foot in different directions into a parking lot. One suspect attempted to get into a vehicle where a mother was putting her children into the back. The mother did not allow the suspect into the vehicle so he continued running on foot and was taken into custody shortly thereafter. The second suspect also attempted to take another vehicle but was taken into custody before he could drive away.
Both suspects were taken into custody without injury and were transported to the Irving Jail where they were both charged with Aggravated Robbery and Evading Arrest. No officers or citizens were injured during the vehicle and foot pursuit. All of the money was recovered at the location where the suspects were taken intocustody.
This arrest is the direct result of the concerted effort of the witnesses who called to report the robbery, police dispatchers, and the officers who responded to the call and ultimately took the suspects into custody.
The suspects have been identified as Larry Derek Blain (24) of Hewitt and Steve Anthony Garcia (24) of Dallas.
The suspects are currently in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
