Bradenton Bank Robbery Suspect Arrested Minutes After Heist
A 60-year-old man is facing robbery charges after authorities say he robbed a Bradenton bank Friday morning before being located and arrested a short time later with assistance from the Sarasota Police Department.
According to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, Joel Bales entered the Wells Fargo branch at 2901 53rd Ave. E. shortly before 11 a.m. and announced that he was robbing the bank while demanding cash and instructing the teller not to include a dye pack.
The teller complied, handing over an undisclosed amount of money. Bales then fled the scene in a white van, traveling south on U.S. 301.
Detectives quickly gathered information identifying the suspect and his vehicle, which was shared with the Sarasota Police Department. Sarasota officers located the van in the 1700 block of Washington Boulevard (U.S. 301) and detained Bales until Manatee County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrived.
Investigators said Bales acted alone and that no other suspects are believed to have been involved. Authorities recovered all of the stolen money.
Bales has been charged with robbery and will be booked into the Sarasota County Jail. The investigation remains ongoing.
