Two suspects arrested for credit union robbery
Updated: September 20, 2012
Update: 6:15 pm
CHAMPAIGN CO -- What started as a bank robbery turned into a high speed chase. Police say a man robbed the Community Plus Credit Union off Champaign Avenue in Rantoul. Minutes later, the getaway car was flying south down I-57 toward Champaign.
Two suspects are behind bars, 27-year-old Maurice Thomas and 24-year-old Darta Bishop. Both are from Champaign.
The suspects weren't only speeding on the highway, they were driving fast through some neighborhoods. Police say Bishop crashed the car near the intersection of Arcadia and Winding Lane.
The car jumped a curb, skidded across a driveway then came to a stop in a yard. The car blew out a tire when that happened.
This all started at Community Plus Credit Union around 10:42 am. Police say one of the men was wearing a disguise when he entered the bank. He then used a note demanding money from the teller. Police say he never showed a weapon.
After getting the cash they fled towards Champaign. Police say Thomas ditched the car and forced his way into a home on East Garwood Street. They caught him as he was trying to walk away from the area.
Bishop continued driving before crashing. He was arrested after a short foot chase.
"We were all on the same frequency so Rantoul was talking to Champaign, Champaign County got involved also, so everybody was on the same page on the same channel being able to exchange the same information," said Champaign Police Detective Lt. Robert Rea.
"They knew well before we were coming into their town that we were on our way there," said Sgt. Marcus Beach, Rantoul Police Detective. "They had the ability to set up officers in their area and be prepared for us to come into town."
Lt. Rea says about 20 officers were involved in the chase. Nobody was hurt. Rea says it's possible both suspects might be behind other robberies in Champaign, but he wouldn't go into specifics.
No word yet on what charges Thomas and Bishop will face. To see our report on a witness who saw the high speed chase, click here!
Original: 11:13 am
RANTOUL --- Two suspects are behind bars for the robbery of a credit union this morning. Police say one of the men held up the Community Plus Federal Credit Union at 526 E. Champaign Avenue in Rantoul around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.
Investigators followed the pair from Rantoul to Champaign. They arrested one suspect in the 100 block of E. Garwood in Champaign after he fled the vehicle on foot.
The second suspect was arrested hiding behind a home near Arcadia Drive after he ditched the getaway car in the front yard of a home in the 1400 block of Winding Lane.
Officers from Champaign, Rantoul and the Champaign County Sheriff's Office worked together to catch the suspects.
CHAMPAIGN CO -- What started as a bank robbery turned into a high speed chase. Police say a man robbed the Community Plus Credit Union off Champaign Avenue in Rantoul. Minutes later, the getaway car was flying south down I-57 toward Champaign.
Two suspects are behind bars, 27-year-old Maurice Thomas and 24-year-old Darta Bishop. Both are from Champaign.
The suspects weren't only speeding on the highway, they were driving fast through some neighborhoods. Police say Bishop crashed the car near the intersection of Arcadia and Winding Lane.
The car jumped a curb, skidded across a driveway then came to a stop in a yard. The car blew out a tire when that happened.
This all started at Community Plus Credit Union around 10:42 am. Police say one of the men was wearing a disguise when he entered the bank. He then used a note demanding money from the teller. Police say he never showed a weapon.
After getting the cash they fled towards Champaign. Police say Thomas ditched the car and forced his way into a home on East Garwood Street. They caught him as he was trying to walk away from the area.
Bishop continued driving before crashing. He was arrested after a short foot chase.
"We were all on the same frequency so Rantoul was talking to Champaign, Champaign County got involved also, so everybody was on the same page on the same channel being able to exchange the same information," said Champaign Police Detective Lt. Robert Rea.
"They knew well before we were coming into their town that we were on our way there," said Sgt. Marcus Beach, Rantoul Police Detective. "They had the ability to set up officers in their area and be prepared for us to come into town."
Lt. Rea says about 20 officers were involved in the chase. Nobody was hurt. Rea says it's possible both suspects might be behind other robberies in Champaign, but he wouldn't go into specifics.
No word yet on what charges Thomas and Bishop will face. To see our report on a witness who saw the high speed chase, click here!
Original: 11:13 am
RANTOUL --- Two suspects are behind bars for the robbery of a credit union this morning. Police say one of the men held up the Community Plus Federal Credit Union at 526 E. Champaign Avenue in Rantoul around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.
Investigators followed the pair from Rantoul to Champaign. They arrested one suspect in the 100 block of E. Garwood in Champaign after he fled the vehicle on foot.
The second suspect was arrested hiding behind a home near Arcadia Drive after he ditched the getaway car in the front yard of a home in the 1400 block of Winding Lane.
Officers from Champaign, Rantoul and the Champaign County Sheriff's Office worked together to catch the suspects.
Comments
Yes Vriginia, there is a logic to this story. There is a Winding Lane and Arcadia in Champaign as well.
Mark O.
September 18, 2012 at 6:31 pm
This story makes no sense. If they were chased to Champaign and one guy was arrested, did the other guy return to Rantoul and end up at Winding Lane and Arcadia????
Virginia W.
September 18, 2012 at 5:50 pm
This story makes no sense. If they were chased to Champaign and one guy was arrested, did the other guy return to Rantoul and end up at Winding Lane and Arcadia????
Virginia W.
September 18, 2012 at 5:49 pm
