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Convicted bank robber accused of new string of thefts weeks after being paroled

Posted at 4:46 PM, Jun 13, 2017
and last updated 2017-06-14 12:00:09-04

INDIANAPOLIS -- A man convicted of a string of 2007 bank robberies was charged Monday in a new series of robberies just weeks after getting off parole.

David Bryant, 41, faces four counts of robbery and two counts of resisting law enforcement in connection with four bank robberies that occurred in the Indianapolis area between May and June of this year.

The first robbery occurred on May 16 at the PNC Bank location at 155 E. Market Street in downtown Indianapolis.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed Monday in Marion County, Bryan walked up to a teller at the bank and laid down a note reading, "This is a robbery. I have a gun."

Bryant then reportedly told the teller he wasn't going to hurt her, and demanded large bills.

According to the affidavit, Bryant made away with $1,150 in that robbery.

Investigators say Bryant conducted three other bank robberies following the same pattern: informing the teller he was robbing the bank; demanding cash in $100 and $50 bills; and threatening to use a gun if the teller contacted anyone.

During one of those robberies, at the Old National Bank location at 8930 E. 56th Street, Bryant allegedly attempted to disguise his identity by wearing a woman's wig.

In all, investigators accuse Bryant of stealing the following amounts of money from each of the bank locations he allegedly hit:

  • PNC Bank, 155 E. Market Street: $1,150
  • Old National Bank, 8930 E. 56th Street: $2,600
  • PNC Bank, 10002 E. Washington Street: $3,450
  • PNC Bank, 101 W. Washington Street: $3,660

According to the affidavit, Bryant was identified as the suspect in the robberies after a surveillance image from one of the PNC Bank robberies was shared with the Lawrence Police Department. Deputy Chief Gary Woodruff reportedly recognized Bryant immediately because he had arrested him in connection with a series of bank robberies in Indianapolis in 2007.

According to Indiana Department of Correction records, Bryant was sentenced in September 2007 to 13 years in prison for three counts of robbery. He was released on parole in March of this year.

Investigators eventually located Bryant at the Gateway Motel at 1740 N. Lafayette Road on June 1 following an anonymous tip. Bryant was taken into custody after a brief chase, during which he fell into the White River and had to be pulled out by police.

Tellers from two of the banks Bryant is alleged to have robbed subsequently identified him from a photo lineup as the man who robbed them.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Bryant was being held at the Marion County Jail on a $200,000 bond.

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