Witness helps police catch bank robber
Two people were taken into custody for allegedly robbing a Fayette County bank Thursday after a man who witnessed the crime followed the suspects in a pickup truck, watching them until police arrived on scene.
“I’m no hero, I just did what any decent person would have done. I work hard for my money and I think everyone else needs to, too,” said Donald Huntsberger of Kentucky, who said he witnessed the robbery and called 911.
Officials said a male robbed Parkvale Bank, located on Route 40 in Brownsville, around 3 p.m. The male was allegedly assisted by a female who drove the get-away car, according to officials.
Huntsberger, who works in the natural gas industry and has been living in Fayette County the last two years, said rain prevented him from working Thursday.
“We got rained out, so I was sitting outside smoking when I saw a red Cavalier pull in at the hardware store near the bank and it has a Walmart bag tied around the license plate,” Huntsberger said. “A guy gets out and he’s dressed in black from head to toe — black face mask, black hoodie, black everything. He walks across the parking lot to the bank and sees us sitting there watching him and just waves like hell, like he’s on his way to work or something.”
Huntsberger, who was visiting a longtime family friend who owns a business near the bank, said he went inside and told his friend he thought the bank was maybe being robbed.
“Sure enough, this dude comes running out and the lady driving had pulled the car down. He jumps in the car and they take off,” he said.
Huntsberger said he and his friend got in a truck and gave chase, with his friend driving as he called 911. The men followed the suspects to the Hunters Ridge apartments in Redstone Township and kept an eye on the suspects, pointing out who they were when a Redstone Township police officer arrived on scene.
Both suspects were taken into custody without incident and police had their vehicle towed from the apartment complex.
Huntsberger said he didn’t have any second thoughts about following the suspects.
“I thought maybe we might get shot at, but the guy didn’t do anything but wave at me as he was on his way into the bank,” Huntsberger said, noting that he was glad he was able to be of some assistance.
“It’s the day the hillbilly caught the bank robber. I bet it was the quickest bank robbery arrest ever made,” he said.
State police are handling the investigation. Charges against the male and female suspects were not filed as of deadline Thursday night.