One man arrested after bank robbery, police chase

A man carrying a black handgun and red-and-green Christmas bag held up the Heights branch of First Independent Bank on Tuesday morning and escaped with some cash. A suspect was captured a short time later after a police chase.

Vancouver police identified the suspected bandit as Trusty C. Anastacio, 18, of Vancouver. He was in custody at the Clark County Jail Tuesday evening on suspicion of first-degree robbery, and is expected to make a first court appearance today.

The robbery was reported at 9:52 a.m. as the robber fled the bank, at 6501 E. Mill Plain Blvd., just west of Andresen Road. The robber, dressed in a black hooded sweatshirt and jeans, left the bank on foot, but a witness reported seeing him get into an older Cadillac sedan.

As police converged on the bank, one officer spotted such a Cadillac southbound on Andresen, turned, and gave chase.

The Cadillac’s driver got onto Highway 14 eastbound at Riverside Drive as police converged on the area. Just east of Lieser Road, the driver stopped the car.

Officers took three occupants of the car into custody for questioning. When a news release was issued at 4:35 Tuesday afternoon, detectives were still conducting interviews. It’s not known whether the other two occupants of the car will face any charges.

Traffic backed up briefly on Highway 14 due to the police activity.

Detectives with the police department’s Major Crimes Unit are investigating.