Police identify suspect arrested in Palmetto after bank robbery in Bradenton

BRADENTON -- Police caught a Sarasota man in Palmetto after he robbed a bank in Bradenton on Tuesday morning, according to the Bradenton Police Department.

About 9:22 a.m., man, later identified by police as 30-year-old Brian Schmidt, robbed the Wells Fargo at 1700 59th Street W., taking an unspecified amount of money, and fled in a vehicle, according to Capt. William Fowler of the Bradenton Police Department. Police said Schmidt entered the bank, approached a bank teller and handed her a note stating that he was robbing the bank and demanded money.

Schmidt led police on a pursuit that ended in Palmetto. Police said he exited his vehicle and tried to continue running but was caught and arrested.

The Palmetto Police Department and the Manatee County Sheriff's Office assisted with the arrest. According to a report, members of the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force also responded to the robbery.

Robbery and fleeing to elude charges are pending against `Schmidt, police said.

Anyone with information on this case can call any of the following numbers: The Bradenton Police Department at 941-932-9300, Detective Nasario Camacho at 941-932-9312 or to remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000, call Crime Stoppers (toll free) at 1-866-634-8477 (TIPS) or send an anonymous E-Tip thru the web at www.manateecrimestoppers.com.

This story was originally published December 15, 2015 at 5:19 PM with the headline "Police identify suspect arrested in Palmetto after bank robbery in Bradenton ."