FBI Investigating Downtown Spokane Bank Robbery
The FBI is investigating a bank robbery at the Banner Bank branch in downtown Spokane.
The robbery happened shortly before 2 p.m. Tuesday at the branch located near 800 West Riverside.
The FBI confirms that a single male entered the bank, claimed to have a bomb and demanded some money.
The problem for the robbery suspect is that within moments of the robbery a Spokane Police detective was in the bank branch before the suspect had finish his withdrawal.
A Spokane Police detective wearing street clothes entered the bank, determined the robbery suspect’s location and then held him at gunpoint until other officers could come inside. They then arrested the man, identified later as Shawn P. Hoffman, and took him into custody.
Hoffman told both Banner Bank employees as well as police officers there was a bomb inside the bank, so the building was evacuated as a precaution and Riverside between Lincoln and Wall was cordoned off.
The explosive disposal unit swept the bank for any signs of suspicious devices but did not find any.
Hoffman was booked into the Spokane County Jail on a 1st Degree Robbery charge.
