MOBILE, Ala. — A bank employee followed an alleged robbery suspect out of the building after a holdup, helping police make an arrest, according to federal court documents.
The robbery happened July 29 at BankPlus on Montlimar Drive, with Mobile police responding shortly before 10 a.m. Investigators arrested 19-year-old Dillin Tucker in connection with the robbery, initially charging him with first-degree robbery; court documents show he now faces federal charges as well.
According to investigators, Tucker entered the bank wearing a black mask and a gray hoodie pulled over his head. An FBI agent said Tucker handed a note to a bank teller that read: “Don’t Panic this money aint yours if you make any move I’m going to blow all of us up I Don’t care about Dying!!!” Court records say the teller activated a silent alarm before placing $2,400 into Tucker’s black plastic bag.
The federal complaint states another BankPlus employee got into her vehicle and followed Tucker after the robbery. She told police she watched him go into a wooded area and emerge in different clothes. Officers later found the clothes Tucker wore during the robbery, along with the cash, inside a backpack.
Mobile police issued a statement to FOX10 News cautioning against following suspects. “We don’t advise anyone to follow a subject, especially in a situation like this. While we appreciated their information, this puts their safety at risk,” the department said.
Federal investigators say surveillance footage shows Tucker visited the bank two days before the robbery without conducting any business. Records show he made his initial appearance in federal court on Friday; it is not yet clear when he will next appear in court.