Brookfield, Tosa Police Round Up Butler Bank Job Suspects

Two men suspected of robbing a bank in Butler were rounded up by police, thanks to the mutual aid of the Brookfield and Wauwatosa police departments.

The pair, one 33 and one 34, both from Milwaukee, were arrested on suspicion of bank robbery but have not yet been charged. 

According to Brookfield police reports and an interview with a ranking officer:

At 11:51 a.m. Jan. 26, Brookfield and Wauwatosa police were called in to assist Butler police with the search for a man who had just robbed the US Bank branch at 13195 W. Hampton Ave.

The suspect entered the bank wearing all black clothing with a hood up, approached a teller and produced a black “Glock-type” handgun, according to witnesses. He walked up to a teller and said, “I’m not (expletive) playing – give me the money in a bag.”

The teller did as told, handing over an undisclosed amount of cash, and the robber quickly left the bank lobby and took off in an old model light blue or cream sedan.

Police soon got a call that a man driving a light-colored Buick at least 15 years old had just crashed into a pole in front of Orkin Pest Control, 13170 W. Glendale Ave. The driver jumped out and ran, now wearing a blue down jacket and a Packers hat, the witness said. He was last seen running behind a neighboring business.

Meanwhile, Brookfield and Wauwatosa officers were descending on tiny Butler in force.

Wauwatosa sent at least four officers, while Brookfield sent "a ton of officers," said Capt. Jim Adlam. "Eleven all together – most of the shift."

The suspect was sighted several times making his way through a maze of industrial buildings, but he always disappeared before officers could catch up. The cat and mouse game kept up.

Wauwatosa officers found a fresh set of footprints going east on a set of railroad tracks at North 124th Street, and a K9 was called in and did “alert” to the tracks, the Brookfield report said.

A short time later, officers – human and canine – found clothing and a wig. They closed in on an area where they believed they had the subject cornered.

About then, a Brookfield officer spotted a car heading out of the area. There were two men in it, and it seemed an odd time and place for anyone to be driving through. Also, one of the men resembled the description of the perpetrator.

Officers blocked off the car and stopped the occupants. Both were found to have criminal records that included prior arrests for bank robbery.

Police believe that the perpetrator called in his waiting accomplice, a party to the crime, after crashing his getaway car. No charges have yet been filed, however.