Midwest City Police officer spoils bank robber's getaway

<br>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A Midwest City police officer spoiled a bank robbery suspect's getaway on Saturday, authorities said. <br><br>Officer Mark Tipley spotted a vehicle driven by Greg William Abbott

Saturday, February 16th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A Midwest City police officer spoiled a bank robbery suspect's getaway on Saturday, authorities said.

Officer Mark Tipley spotted a vehicle driven by Greg William Abbott shortly after an employee of Bank One in Midwest City flagged him down, said Gary Johnson, a spokesman for the FBI in Oklahoma City.

The employee had followed the vehicle after a man walked into the bank around 11:13 a.m. and handed the teller a note, reading ``Please don't cause anyone to get hurt,'' Johnson said.

``The robber kept his right hand in his coat to imply that he had a weapon, although none was seen,'' Johnson said. The man gathered the money and left, apparently unaware that the bank employee was following him.

The employee tailed the robber's car to the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant, where he signaled Tipley, Johnson said. He gave Tipley a detailed description of the vehicle, which Tipley located and tried to stop.

The robber fled onto Interstate 40 and Tipley pursued him. The officer managed to ram his car into the fleeing vehicle, disabling it about 3 1/2 miles east of the bank on I-40, Johnson said.

Abbott, 39 of Oklahoma City, was arrested without incident and taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries, Johnson said. No one else was injured in the pursuit.

``A significant amount of money was located in the front seat of the vehicle, which we believe to be proceeds from the bank robbery,'' Johnson said.

After receiving treatment, Abbott was taken to the Oklahoma County Jail, where he was being held without bond, Johnson said.

Abbott could face federal bank robbery charges, Johnson said.