Arrest Made of "C-Note" Bank Robber
March 10, 2010 - Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) today announced the arrest of a Woodridge man for the March 5, 2010, robbery of the U.S. Bank branch, located at 755 East Boughton Road, Bolingbrook.
DEREK ORTIZ, age 33, whose last known address was listed as 7912 Chelsea Drive, Woodridge, Illinois, was arrested late Friday night following a car chase covering several miles and involving a number of neighboring law enforcement officers and agencies. ORTIZ was charged in a criminal complaint filed on Monday, March 8, 2010, in U.S. District Court in Chicago with one count of Bank Robbery, which is a felony offense.
According to the complaint, ORTIZ entered the U.S. Bank branch located inside a Meijer store around 7:45 p.m., approached a teller, displayed a black handgun and verbally announced a robbery demanding cash. The robber stated that he wanted “hundreds.” After receiving just over $3,500.00, ORTIZ fled the bank on foot. At the time of the robbery, witnesses described ORTIZ as wearing a dark knit cap, prescription-type clear lens eyeglasses, a dark winter coat, and tan colored gloves. Video surveillance captured the robber on camera as he entered and exited the Meijer store. Witnesses also provided a description of the getaway vehicle. No injuries were reported during the robbery.
Subsequent investigation by the Bolingbrook Police Department led to the identification of ORTIZ as the robber and the filing of the complaint yesterday. The K-9 officer responding to the bank robbery observed the getaway vehicle used in the robbery, activated his emergency equipment, and attempted to stop the vehicle. A chase ensued which ended with ORTIZ being taken into custody by the Chicago Police Department at the 5000 block of West Washington Boulevard in Chicago. At the time of his arrest, ORTIZ was wearing clothing matching the witnesses’ description.
Though not charged, ORTIZ is also a suspect in the following bank robberies: February 15, 2010, TCF Bank branch, 1341 North Paulina, Chicago; February 14, 2010, TCF Bank branch, 7525 West Lake Street, River Forest; February 11, 2010 TCF Bank branch, 7335 Cass Avenue, Darien; January 27, 2010, U.S. Bank, 225 Weber Road, Bolingbrook; and the January, 15, 2010, robbery of the U.S. Bank branch, 755 East Boughton Road, Bolingbrook.
ORTIZ appeared before Magistrate Judge Nan R. Nolan late yesterday, at which time he was formally charged. ORTIZ is being held without bond pending his next scheduled court appearance. If convicted of the charge filed against him, ORTIZ faces a possible sentence of up to twenty (20) years’ incarceration.
In announcing this arrest, Mr. Grant commended the officers of several suburban and local law enforcement agencies for their efforts in helping to solve this robbery. Said Mr. Grant “The dedication and hard work shown by these officers resulted in the arrest of a potentially dangerous serial bank robber, and once again highlights the efforts of cooperation between neighboring agencies and effective law enforcement.”
Additional information about this and other recent Chicago area bank robberies, including downloadable photographs, is available at the Bandit Tracker website, www.bandittrackerchicago.com.
The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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