Muncie's most recent bank robbery will receive exposure on national television this weekend.
The Jan. 12 robbery at Mutual Federal Savings Bank, 2918 W. Jackson St., which police officials say is possibly connected to an Anderson bank holdup last summer, will be featured on the FOX-TV program "America's Most Wanted" at 9 p.m. Saturday.
"We're hoping it develops a strong lead for the suspect," Muncie police detective Brad Weimer said.
In the Muncie robbery, police said a man entered the bank, fired a bullet at the ceiling and ordered everyone to the floor. The man then took money from all of the teller machines and escaped, police said.
Anderson police detective Trent Chamberlin said this robbery might be connected to the Aug. 1 holdup at Anderson's Madison County Federal Credit Union, where a man in a ski mask entered the bank, waved his gun and demanded money.
While at the credit union, the man exchanged gunfire with an off-duty police officer and was shot. However, he escaped without money, Chamberlin said.
According to witnesses, the man was a light-skinned black male, about 5 feet 10 inches tall, about 250 pounds and between the ages of 25 and 35. He might also have possible gunshot wounds, Chamberlin said.
Chamberlin said similarities in both the description of the suspect and his method of operation during both robberies led him to believe the two robberies are related.
"Most people performing a robbery usually tell you to put up your hands and give them the money," Chamberlin said. "But in both of these robberies, the man said 'You know what this is' and immediately ordered everyone to the ground."
Both Muncie and Anderson investigators have received many leads, but none have been successful.
Weimer said after Anderson police contacted "America's Most Wanted" in January, producers filmed parts of the show in both Anderson and Muncie. In fact, one of the show's producers is originally from Muncie, he said.
He said this national exposure will be helpful, since the robber poses a future threat to the public.
"We're definitely dealing with a dangerous person," Weimer said. "He was involved in a shootout with a police officer. Anyone who could go to those lengths would obviously not care about hurting anyone."
Chamberlin said if the man is caught, he will be charged not only with bank robbery but also attempted murder. However, local police have no idea where to start looking for him, he said.
"At the local level, we've exhausted all the leads we have," Chamberlin said. "We're basically looking for a needle in a haystack."
Weimer said he hopes anyone who recognizes the man or has information about the robberies will come forward so that an arrest can be made.
"I wish I could tell you we are making an arrest today, but we're not," Weimer said. "We need help from the public and anyone that knows anything about it."
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