Reward for 'River Rat' Up to $15,000
Robbery Near Seattle Added to the List
| FBI Portland October 07, 2009 |
The banking industry in Washington has added up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the “River Rat” bank robber. When added to the initial $10,000 offered by the Oregon Financial Institutions Security Task Force, the total reward now stands at up to $15,000.
Investigators have added another bank to the list of possible robberies tagged to the River Rat. On Friday, an armed man entered the NW Commercial Bank located at 4220 A Street SE, Suite 109, in Auburn, Washington, and ordered everyone to the ground. He demanded cash, and left on foot.
Federal agents and officers working this case are now expanding their investigative area up the I-5 corridor as far north as Seattle. Despite extensive publicity and the release of very clear, identifiable photos in the Portland/Vancouver area, investigators have yet to receive a high volume of credible tips. Added to the fact that the “River Rat” appears to be completely unconcerned about the high quality of the surveillance photos capturing each of the incidents in the Portland/Vancouver metro area leads investigators to the possibility that he lives elsewhere and is simply traveling to the Portland/Vancouver area to commit the crimes.
They are hopeful that attention by media outlets further north in Washington will increase the possibility that a friend, co-worker, family member or acquaintance will recognize him and report him.
The joint investigation includes agents and officers from the FBI, the Portland Police Bureau, the Vancouver Police Department, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, the Puyallup (WA) Police Department, and the Auburn (WA) Police Department.
The River Rat is now believed responsible for at least eight bank robberies and seven robberies at check cashing or payday loan advance stores in the Northwest. Most of the robberies occurred in Portland or Vancouver, although several did happen in Puyallup and the one in Auburn.
In each case, the man has entered the bank or store, displayed a black handgun and demanded cash. In several cases, he actually leaped onto or over the teller counter to get to the cash.
The other bank robberies include:
- August 7, 2009 - Columbia State Bank, 10735 NE Halsey, Portland
- August 11, 2009 - Key Bank, 13215 SE Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver
- August 19, 2009 - Riverview Community Bank, 10401 NE Halsey, Portland
- August 24, 2009 - Columbia State Bank, 618 S. Meridian, Puyallup, Washington
- August 26, 2009 - Riverview Community Bank, 10401 NE Halsey, Portland
- September 18, 2009 - Albina Community Bank, 5636 NE Sandy Blvd., Portland
- September 24, 2009 – Chase Bank, 13620 NE 84th St., Vancouver
The check cashing or payday advance loan stores that were robbed are in the Vancouver and Puyallup, Washington, areas.
Witnesses describe the man as:
- White
- Age: 20’s - mid 30’s
- Height: 5’7”
- Weight: 165 pounds
- Build: Medium
- Clothing: Sometimes wears a black athletic-style jacket with a white stripe or a gray zip-up sweatshirt; a baseball cap (sometimes camouflage), dark sunglasses; latex gloves
- Other: Speaks with an accent
Investigators gave this suspect the nickname “River Rat” because he is robbing banks on both sides of the Columbia River. No one has been injured in any of these robberies, but this man should be considered armed and dangerous. No one should approach him. If in immediate danger, call 911. Otherwise, anyone who has a tip is asked to call the FBI in Portland at (503) 224-4181, the FBI in Seattle at (206) 622-0460 or Det. Scott Smith at the Vancouver Police Department at (360) 487-7416.
FIST is a cooperative effort made up of representatives from banks, savings and loans, and credit unions, as well as representatives from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. The purpose of FIST is to help reduce crimes.