GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Grand Rapids police say the person taken into custody for questioning in connection to a robbery and an attempted at two banks was not involved.
Grand Rapids Police Department Sgt. Cathy Williams said the person was questioned in connection to the robbery and an attempted robbery at two Fifth Third Bank branches after receiving a tip. It was later determined that he was not involved, but he was arrested for outstanding warrants.
Police said they took the person into custody between 9 and 9:30 p.m. Monday for questioning after they surrounded a house on Bridge Street NW.
Authorities put area banks on alert after the holdups.
The robbery happened around 1:10 p.m. at the Fifth Third Bank at 700 Bridge Street NW, according to Grand Rapids police.
The suspect implied he had a weapon and fled the bank with an undisclosed amount of money, police said.
He was described as a man in his 30s, approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall with a slim build. He was wearing a maroon dress shirt and a black hat.
Police used a K-9 team to try to track him, but the search was unsuccessful. Shortly after the robbery, police saw someone matching the description of the suspect entering a home in the area, but officers called everyone out of the home and the suspect was not located.
The attempted robbery happened about four hours earlier and less than three miles away at the Fifth Third Bank at 1319 Michigan Street NE.
In that incident, the suspect implied he had a weapon while demanding money from a teller, but no weapons were seen, authorities said. The suspect then left on foot.
Police also used a K-9 unit to try to track the suspect, but it was unsuccessful.
Police said the suspect appeared to be 35 to 55 years old. He was last seen wearing sunglasses, a tan hat, a gray, hooded sweatshirt and light-colored pants.
Anyone with information should contact police at 616.456.3400 or Silent Observer at 616.774.2345.