Suspected 'I-55 Bandit' Bank Robber Surrenders
ST. LOUIS (WJZ) -- The so-called "I-55 Bandit" is finally behind bars. He's accused of robbing a dozen banks across five states, including here in Maryland.
The suspect surrendered to the FBI.
Linh Bui has details on the alleged crime spree.
He's called the "I-55 Bandit" because the crimes started near Interstate 55 around St. Louis. But the bandit came all the way here to Maryland.
Wearing sunglasses, sometimes a hat, the I-55 Bandit struck a dozen banks. But Andrew Maberry, 19, turned himself in within 24 hours of an FBI media blitz.
"It's an electronic billboard. It's an electronic top 10 list, and there is nothing better," said Bill Gavin, former FBI assistant director.
The crime spree began in May, with three bank robberies around St. Louis. Then in June, Maberry visited his mother in Maryland.
Four banks were hit in Maryland. A TD Bank in Essex, the Harford Bank on South Main Street in Bel Air, the Wells Fargo on Bel Air Road and a Susquehanna Bank in Ocean City.
Each crime carried out the same way: by passing a note to the teller implying he was armed.
"Get more people like that off the streets," said Zach Trees, Bel Air.
Although no one was hurt, the FBI says there were victims.
"It's a terrible thing for those poor people in the bank," said Gavin.
But friends describe a happy guy, not a criminal.
"He was never violent. Never really got in trouble a lot or anything like that," said Kameron Hutchens, suspect's friend.
"He was literally the nicest guy ever," said Ashley Olinde, suspect's friend.
Maberry is charged with one federal count of bank robbery. It's not clear if he was an attorney.
The FBI has not revealed a motive behind the bank robberies, and they haven't said how much money he got away with.
According to the FBI, Maberry also hit a bank in West Virginia and three banks in Jackson, Tenn.
