Bank robbery suspect arrested after fleeing in cab

A bank robbery suspect learned the hard way Monday that fleeing a holdup in a cab is a surefire way to get caught.

Waukegan police Cmdr. Gabe Guzman said one man was arrested and a second questioned but let go Monday after a morning robbery at the TCF National Bank in the 900 block of Green Bay Road.

Ollie Peterson, whose last known address was on the far south side of Chicago, was charged with the robbery. Police described the second man as “an accomplice,” but said he did not participate in the robbery.

Peterson was born in 1965, but his exact birth date was not known, Guzman said.

Police said Peterson walked up to a teller at the bank inside a Jewel Food Store just before 10 a.m., requested money from the cashier, then implied he had a weapon. After receiving nearly $3,000 cash from the bank clerk, Peterson and the second man ran out into the street, Guzman said, where they hailed a cab.

From there they were driven to the 1000 block of New York Street in Waukegan and went inside, police said.

Officers arrived at the bank moments after the stickup and learned from witnesses that the robbers had ducked inside a cab, Guzman said. Detectives called the cab company and received the address where the robbers were dropped off, Guzman said.

“We went there and one tried to escape out a back window,” he said. “However, they were both rounded up and placed in custody.”

Guzman said the second man will not be charged.