"No Boundaries Bandit" Suspect Charged With South Side Bank Robbery
CHICAGO (CBS/STMW) -- The alleged "No Boundaries Bandit," who is suspected of robbing at least 13 banks in the Chicago area, has been charged in federal court with robbing a Southwest Side bank. He was arrested by Cicero police over the weekend.
Rodrigo Medellin, 31, is charged with one felony count of bank robbery in connection with the June 11 robbery of the Washington Federal Bank at 2869 S. Archer Ave., according to a statement from the FBI. He is scheduled to appear before U.S. Judge Jeffrey Cole at 10:30 a.m. Thursday.
Medellin, of New Lenox, is suspected in at least 12 other bank robberies across the city and suburbs since May 16, according to the FBI. The most recent robbery happened last Thursday afternoon at a Berwyn PNC Bank branch, at 6620 Ogden Ave.
Cicero police saw photos of the alleged bandit and recognized him as a man suspected of being involved in local gangs, town spokesman Ray Hanania said. Authorities tracked him to Broadview where he was taken into custody Sunday following a brief chase.
Medellin had a loaded Tec-9 automatic weapon on him at the time of his arrest, according to Hanania. In addition to the federal charge, he has been charged under state law with aggravated assault to a police officer, aggravated fleeing and eluding police and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, in connection with his arrest, police said.
According to the official criminal complaint, the bandit netted $4,160 from one of his robberies.
The complaint disclosed what he allegedly wrote in one stick up note: "I have a fully loaded weapon. Want all cash from drawer. Don't put in any dye packs, I know what they look like."
The complaint also reveals that late in the hunt for Medellin, a family member contacted the FBI and said his relative, "could be" the man they were looking for.
It turns out, the heists had an impact on Chicago area bank robbery statistics.
"We are a little increased this year, for calendar year in 2014 as opposed to 20:13... the 'no boundaries bandit' is responsible for a lot of that increase," said FBI Special Agent Garrett Croon.
That case remains pending, and he is scheduled to appear for a hearing at the Maywood courthouse Sept. 23, court records show.
Medellin is suspected of robbing the following banks:
-Aug. 25, 5:49 p.m. at TCF, 800 N. Harlem in River Forest
—Aug. 21, 2:08 p.m. at BMO Harris, 9101 Cermak in North Riverside
—Aug. 15, 6 p.m. at Chase Bank, 100 W. North Ave. in Northlake
—Aug. 11, 1:17 p.m. at Park Federal Savings, 5400 S. Pulaski in Chicago
—July 16, 2:35 p.m. at Popular Bank, 1700 W. Lake in Melrose Park
—June 25, 4:50 p.m. at TCF Bank, 5320 S. Pulaski in Chicago
—June 24, 5:06 p.m. at Chase Bank, 1700 N. Wells in Chicago
—June 19, 4:33 p.m. at Charter One, 4001 South Harlem in Stickney
—June 11, 3:13 p.m. at Washington Federal Bank, 2869 S. Archer in Chicago
—Jun. 6, 4:50 p.m. at PNC Bank, 6650 W. Cermak in Berwyn
—May 27, 1:27 p.m. at TCF Bank, 6315 W. 55th in Chicago
—May 16, 5:14 p.m. at PNC Bank, 4900 W. 87th St. in Burbank.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2014. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)