WASHINGTON – Police shut down Interstate 270 to catch suspected bank robbers who were traveling along the highway Tuesday morning.
Police caught the three robbers, whose names have not been released, in the backed-up traffic not long after the robbery at a Rockville Wells Fargo branch, Montgomery County police say.
Police say two men armed with handguns robbed the bank at 404 King Farm Blvd. about 10 a.m. They fled in silver Kia SUV, driven by a third person, with the stolen cash.
A Prince George’s County police helicopter spotted the SUV traveling south along I-270 a short time later. Police shut down the interstate in order to nab the robbers, who were found stopped in traffic just south of Tuckerman Lane, according to Montgomery County police.
Police found a gun used in the robbery inside the car. And the money taken in the robbery was found in a dump truck that had been traveling near the SUV. Police believe the robbers ditched the cash once they realized police were nearby.
The interstate was shut down in both directions for about 30 minutes while police hunted for the robbers. Motorists stuck in traffic tweeted that police were walking among the stopped vehicles with their weapons drawn.
Northbound lanes reopened about 10:50 a.m. and some southbound traffic began moving a short time later. All lanes were clear by 11:40 a.m.
Police investigate Bank robbery. 404 King Farm Blvd. Avoid S/B 270-trf restricted as police look for suspect vehicle.
— Montgomery Co Police (@mcpnews) March 11, 2014
UPDATE MD I-270 SB before Split for Beltway: STAY IN 2 RIGHT lanes past police activity #mdtraffic #dctraffic pic.twitter.com/JUSUSJXmiC
— WTOP Traffic (@WTOPtraffic) March 11, 2014
MD I-270 SB at the Split for Beltway: CLOSED in BOTH DIRECTIONS: Police activity #mdtraffic #dctraffic pic.twitter.com/iV7dKe0WQS
— WTOP Traffic (@WTOPtraffic) March 11, 2014
@WTOPtraffic any idea what's going in? pic.twitter.com/1GGi8OlIuy
— Hutch_KCCO (@TheRealHutch) March 11, 2014
Follow @WTOPtraffic and @WTOP on Twitter.
