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Chesterfield Police officers shoot bank robbery suspect after chase

Posted at 3:45 PM, Oct 11, 2017
and last updated 2017-10-11 23:36:42-04

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- A bank robbery suspect was shot during a police pursuit along Midlothian Turnpike that ended in the woods in Chesterfield County Wednesday afternoon, officials said.

Officials said officers were dispatched around 2:30 p.m. to a report of an armed robbery at the Argent Federal Credit Union at 1901 Walmart Way.

Chesterfield police spokeswoman Elizabeth Caroon said the suspect pulled out a gun and demanded cash before running off with an undisclosed amount of money.

Police gave chase after spotting a vehicle with a driver matching the description of the suspect: a white male with red hair and beard wearing a hooded sweatshirt and baseball cap.

That pursuit came to an end about four miles away along the 9400 block of Midlothian Turnpike in a field, near Pearson Hyundai, Crime Insider sources indicated.

Video taken outside Pearson Hyundai showed police speeding through the car dealership's parking lot.

Police said that suspect then ran into the woods.

"Officers pursued the suspect on foot and gave him commands to stop," Caroon said. "At one point during the pursuit, the suspect displayed a weapon. One officer fired his service weapon, striking the suspect. Officers secured the suspect, immediately provided first aid and brought him out of the woods."

Crime Insider sources say the suspect was struck twice the chest by bullets but is expected to survive.

Caroon said the suspect was transported to an area hospital where he was in stable but critical condition.

Officials said their investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Anyone with information that could help detectives is asked to call the Chesterfield County Police Department at 804-748-1251 or Crime Solvers at 804-748-0660.

This is a developing story. Witnesses can email news tips and photos here.

“It was action packed!”

Ordinary citizens described a wild chase that went through several Midlothian business parking lots and ended with shots fired.

The chase ran “Dukes of Hazzard”- style over an embankment, through a cleared clay field and into the woods.

"The car came down from this direction and followed by eight or so cop cars through the employee parking lot,” said Austin Cramer, a car salesman at Pearson Hyundai.

Austin Cramer

Chesterfield Police say minutes earlier the man driving had robbed the Argent Credit Union on Walmart Way about four miles west.

"During the robbery, the suspect flashed a gun, demanded money and fled with the cash," said Chesterfield Police’s Interim Chief Dan Kelly.

A description of the getaway car and of the suspect was then broadcast and officers responding to the robbery, spotted the suspect and tried to pull him over, but he refused.

The chase was on: east on Midlothian Turnpike to the 9400 block.

"It was action-packed," said Cramer.

The high stakes drama unfolded at 2:30 in the afternoon. Cramer says the best bit of news was that other people weren't hurt.

"It was definitely dangerous, but they managed to stay clear of everyone,” Cramer said.

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