Law enforcement arrested two people at a Battle Ground residence suspected of being involved in more than 10 area bank robberies the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 20.
The arrests came while the Southwest Washington Regional SWAT team executed a search warrant in connection with a bank robbery investigation at a house between the 1500 and 1600 block of Northeast 10th Street.
Clark County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) and other investigators from the Vancouver Police Department and Portland Police Bureau arrested Andrew Bekman, 31, and Amira Askew, 28, on first-degree robbery charges. According to a news release, investigators suspect Bekman and Askew robbed the Umpqua Bank in Salmon Creek on Nov. 6, and believe they were involved in other bank robberies in the Vancouver/Portland metro area dating back to June, the release stated. According to a news release, Bekman and Askew confessed to the Nov. 6 robbery, along with several others.
While searching the residence, detectives seized clothing matching those worn during multiple robberies, as well as firearms, ballistic vests and stolen vehicles, CCSO stated.
Detectives also recovered a note with the words, "This is a robbery. I have a gun. Empty your till."
Nov. 6 Umpqua Bank robbery
On Nov. 6, deputies responded to a robbery at the Umpqua Bank in Salmon Creek just before 5 p.m. A teller reported that a male and female wearing masks had just robbed the bank, the release stated. The male implied he had a gun, and the suspects left the bank with an unknown amount of cash.
Patrol deputies, detectives and CCSO's Tactical Detective Unit (TDU) worked together to collect video and other evidence from the scene. CCSO then asked for the community's assistance in identifying the suspects. A tip from a member of the public helped identify both suspects and led TDU to their house in Battle Ground, the release stated.
“CCSO would like to thank the public for providing crucial information that led to the apprehension of these suspects,” the release stated. “We would also like to thank the Southwest Washington Regional SWAT Team, the Vancouver Police Department, and the Portland Police Bureau for their partnership and assistance.”
