Dec 15, 2024

Police track down Kansas bank robbery suspect

Posted Dec 15, 2024 2:00 AM
Drees photo Sedgwick County
Drees photo Sedgwick County

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a Kansas bank robbery have made an arrest.

Just after 4 p.m. Wednesday police responded to reports of a robbery at Equity Bank, 7701 E. Kellogg in Wichita.

Employees reported that a man entered the bank and presented a note to a teller demanding money, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo. The suspect, described as a white male wearing glasses, a black hoodie, black sweatpants and gloves, according to the FBI ran from the bank with an undetermined amount of cash.

On Thursday, the Wichita Patrol East Community Policing Team, assisting the Robbery Section, located a vehicle connected to the suspect. During a traffic stop, robbery detectives and FBI agents gathered critical information about the suspect’s location.

The Property Crimes Reduction Team was contacted for assistance and, with support from the Vice Unit, identified the suspect in Derby. Detectives observed the individual walking away from a location and directed marked units to his position. The suspect identified according to Sedgwick County booking  records as 54-year-old Craig Duane Drees was taken into custody without incident.

Following extensive follow-up and collaboration across multiple Wichita Police sections and bureaus, Drees  booked into jail on requested charges that include on count of robbery of a financial institution.