Motorcyclist mistaken for Schaumburg bank robber arrested

Schaumburg police have charged a motorcyclist from Western Springs who fled from officers Tuesday after being mistaken for a bank robbery suspect, authorities said.

Matthew T. Wallace, 24, of the 3900 block of Wolf Road, was charged with felony aggravated fleeing and eluding, as well as the traffic violations of having no insurance, having the wrong class of driver's license for the motorcycle he was operating, speeding and disregarding a traffic control device.

Schaumburg police Sgt. John Nebl said the violations were made between the time authorities first attempted to stop Wallace and when he fled the area shortly afterward on Route 53.

Before he dropped from sight, Wallace led police on a long, complicated chase through many jurisdictions in Cook and DuPage counties and into Western Springs, authorities said. But Western Spring Deputy Police Chief Brian Budds said it was unlikely Wallace will face additional charges there.

Police believe Wallace is the man Woodfield security officers began following because he resembled the description of a man who robbed the nearby Bank of America branch at 1805 E. Golf Road.

The FBI and Schaumburg police later determined Wallace was not the actual bank robber.

The bank robbery occurred at about noon Tuesday. A lone man presented a note to a teller and fled on foot after receiving an unspecified amount of cash. That man is described as white, 5 feet 8 inches tall and 150 pounds. He was wearing khaki slacks and a white shirt.

Wallace's bond has been set at $5,000.