Gurnee man arrested for robbing Zion bank

A Gurnee man has been arrested and charged in connection with Thursday’s armed robbery of a Zion bank and an ensuing high-speed chase through four communities in two states, officials said.

Mark J. Nelson, 26, with a last known address in the 17000 block of Tiger Tail Court, is accused of walking into the PNC Bank in the 2900 block of North Sheridan Road at 3:02 p.m. Thursday, pointing a gun at a teller, and demanding cash, said Zion Police Chief Wayne Brooks.

Although Nelson also ordered employees and patrons to get on the floor, a witness entering the bank was able to provide police with Nelson’s description and direction in which he fled, according to Brooks.

Police on patrol spotted Nelson’s tan-colored Jeep traveling west on 29th Street at a high rate of speed and attempted to stop the vehicle, Brooks said. That sparked a high-speed chase through Zion, Beach Park, Winthrop Harbor and into Pleasant Prairie, Wis., before returning to Waukegan, where Nelson was captured without accident or injury.

When taken into custody Nelson had with him $14,989 cash that was taken from the PNC Bank, Brooks said.

He was transported to the Zion Police Department and interviewed by the FBI and Zion detectives. During the interview, Nelson also admitted to committing a second bank robbery in Waukegan, though it was not immediately clear when or where that occurred.

Nelson is due to be arraigned in federal court on two counts of bank robbery. The case remains under investigation, Brooks said.