Part 12 - A Robbery In Progress

by KYW's Michelle Durham

It started out as a quiet day at Squad 10, until a radio call goes out about a bank robbery in progress.

(Police radio):  "a male....about 5'5 he's bad...wearing a navy shirt...direction taken is unknown...."

We're at Aramingo Avenue in minutes.  Philadelphia Police Detective Andrew Adams, assigned to the squad, explains what happened:

"Teller called him to her station as he approached her he gave her a verbal demand and then he gave the teller a note, and said 'just do what the note says.'  She gave him the money and a dye pack.  Shortly after he exited, the dye pack went off."   (See video below of dye from the pack.)

Special Agent Bastion Freund is busy, too.

"Well, we got pictures from bank surveillance cameras.  The police officers don't have the ability to view the pictures in their cars, so we are going to hop onto the internet in my truck and download the pictures and print out color copies."

(Adams):  "What we're going to do now..."

(Freund interrupts):  ... "we're going to get a coffee!"

(Michelle):  "Will it be Starbucks (Bastion's favorite) or Dunkin' Donuts (Andy's favorite)?"

(Adams):  "It will be Dunkin Donuts (laughter)."

"This area is a high drug area," Adams says, "so we're just going to do a ride by."

We didn't see him, but Philadelphia police officers recognized him immediately from the pictures.  So it will be a team effort to pick him up.