Social media, a bit of technology and a lot of footwork helped police in two states nab a bank robbery suspect who allegedly hit a Portage bank Thursday, police said Friday.
Nicholas Lowe, 35, was arrested in Battle Creek, Mich., early Friday by local police who staked out his vehicle after receiving an arrest warrant from Portage police.
“This was exceptional and quick work by all involved,” said Portage Police Chief Troy Williams. “This is a pretty serious offense and having an arrest within 15 hours of the incident is exceptional.”
Lowe faces one count of felony robbery. Portage police have no records of Lowe having prior offenses in the city.
According to a probable cause affidavit from the Porter County prosecutor’s office, which issued the arrest warrant, Lowe allegedly robbed the Chase Bank branch at 6200 Central Ave. and fled the scene with about $1,400. He got the money from a teller after handing the bank employee a note and displaying the butt of a handgun beneath his hooded sweatshirt, the probable cause affidavit said.
Surveillance video from the bank showed a white male with facial hair and a gray hooded sweatshirt with bank patrons nearby. Images from surveillance video also appear to show a silver or gray Chrysler 300 fleeing the scene.
At about the same time, a Portage resident reported seeing a vehicle matching the one in the surveillance video near the Portage Little League complex with another man and a black Labrador Retriever inside, documents said. A white male matching the description of the suspect who robbed the bank ran to the vehicle and fled, records state.
Video surveillance from a Speedway gas station also showed a customer similar to the suspect fueling the vehicle before the incident. Police identified Lowe using records from that store, documents said.
Police then turned to Michigan state records and Facebook to track Lowe and two witnesses to the robbery positively identified Lowe from a lineup, the probable cause affidavit said.
That was enough to get the arrest warrant and forward it to Battle Creek police, according to the affidavit. Police officials there did not return a call for comment Friday morning.
In a statement following Lowe’s arrest, Williams said his department worked closely with the Battle Creek police, which began surveillance on Lowe.
Williams said Portage detectives were in Michigan Friday to question Lowe and continue the investigation. Police still are trying to verify if Lowe had an accomplice or someone else in the getaway car, but it does not appear Lowe was working with anyone locally, Williams said.
He also did not know why Lowe allegedly chose the bank branch, about a half-mile from City Hall and the near the police department, for the robbery.
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Porter County Prosecutor Brian Gensel said Lowe will have the option of waiving extradition so he can be transported to Porter County to face charges.
Transporting suspects to the county usually does not take much work or time, Gensel said.
“If (Lowe) waives extradition, then he transfers to Porter County sooner rather than later, maybe next week some time” he said. Otherwise, the extradition process may take about three months, Gensel added.
Michael Gonzalez is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.