PANAMA CITY — Police took a suspect into custody around sunset Tuesday after witnesses identified him as the man who had just robbed the Panama City branch of Summit Bank and took off on foot down 23rd Street.
Benjamin McDaniel, 49, was arrested at gunpoint outside of a closed restaurant a few blocks away after he allegedly fled the bank. Police apprehended the McDaniel minutes after he’d passed a robbery note to a teller and left the bank on foot, Maj. Mark Aviles said at the scene.
He had “a large sum” of cash when he was captured, Aviles said. There’s no indication he used a weapon during the robbery.
“It was obvious to the employee that this wasn’t a joke,” Aviles said.
Detectives with the Panama City Police Department charged McDaniel with robbery, grand theft, failure to register as a sex offender and failure to register as a felon.
“As of right now, we know he entered the bank and presented a note,” Sgt. Mike Brewer said at the scene. “Money was collected and he left on foot.”
Brewer estimated the suspect was at large for about two minutes. Police had a description of the suspect from bank employees, and one of the employees followed the suspect from a safe distance and relayed information about his direction of travel to officers, Aviles said.
All of the money taken from the bank was recovered, and no one was hurt in the robbery. McDaniel was arrested without incident. Police are continuing to investigate.
According to the Florida Department of Corrections website, McDaniel has served prison time for at least two separate sex crimes against victims who were under 16. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement indicates he is considered a sexual predator, which is a more severe designation than sexual offender.
An earlier version of this story is posted below:
PANAMA CITY — Police took a man into custody around sunset Tuesday after witnesses identified him as the person who had just robbed the Panama City branch of Summit Bank and took off on foot down 23rd Street.
The man, whose identity was not immediately released by officers on the scene Tuesday evening, was arrested at gunpoint outside of a closed restaurant after he fled the bank a few blocks away. Police apprehended the suspect minutes after he passed a robbery note to a teller and left the bank on foot, Maj. Mark Aviles said at the scene.
The suspect had “a large sum” of cash when he was captured, Aviles said. There’s no indication he used a weapon during the robbery.
“It was obvious to the employee that this wasn’t a joke,” Aviles said.
Detectives with the Panama City Police Department were interviewing the suspect, who Sgt. Mike Brewer described as a white male wearing a dark hoodie and dark pants.
“As of right now, we know he entered the bank and presented a note,” Sgt. Mike Brewer said at the scene. “Money was collected and he left on foot.”
Brewer estimated the suspect was at large for about two minutes. Police had a description of the suspect from bank employees, and one of the employees followed the suspect from a safe distance and relayed information about his direction of travel to officers, Aviles said.
Aviles said detectives would make a charging decision after they finished interviewing the suspect. More information will be released at that time, but it might be a few hours, Aviles said. Police said it was "undeteremined" Tuesday evening whether the suspect had accomplices.