Tulsa Police: Man In Mask Not A Bank Robber

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, OK -- What police first thought to be an attempted bank robbery may now be a case of  a misunderstanding involving an individual who police say is mentally challenged. 

Shortly after noon Thursday, police officers responded to a report of a bank robbery at the IBC Bank branch in the 100 block of West 5^th Street. 

Tulsa Police Sgt. Dave Walker says a teller spotted the individual, who was wearing a Halloween mask, attempting to enter the bank and locked the doors. 

A short time later, police officers spotted the man and arrested him in the 400 block of South Boulder. 

Walker says after further investigation it appears the unidentified man is "mentally challenged" and "is in need of emotional treatment." 

He says shortly before the bank incident, the man had growled at a woman in the 600 block of South Boulder. 

Walker says they are still investigating, but says it is obvious that the man is not responsible for any other robberies of financial institutions. 

The man's description and mask appeared at first to match a suspect who robbed the City National Bank at 5801 East 41st Street on April 18.

4/18/2009 Related story: Tulsa City National Bank Robbed