UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash — A suspect is in custody after allegedly robbing a Washington Federal Bank in University Place on Thursday morning.
Deputies responded to an alarm at 4221 Bridgeport Way West just after 10 a.m. When they arrived, they saw a sedan speeding out of the parking lot, according to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department.
Deputies followed the suspect, who eventually crashed into another vehicle. The suspect ran and was caught a short time later.
A detective went back to the bank and, after announcing he was with the sheriff's department, two employees came out of the bank's vault.
The employees told the detective the suspect robbed them at gunpoint. When the suspect demanded more money, the employees said they went into the vault and shut it so the suspect could not get in - initial information from law enforcement stated the suspect locked the employees in the vault.
The suspect will be booked into Pierce County Jail on suspicion of first-degree robbery, kidnapping, felony eluding and hit-and-run, according to the sheriff's department.
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