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Thursday, March 28, 2024

UPDATE: Gainesville Police arrest suspect in Friday's attempted bank robbery

Update: Gainesville Police arrested the man who police say tried to rob SunState Financial Credit Union last week.

Sgt. Martin Kerpan was driving to the GPD headquarters around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday when he saw Charles L. Jerkins Sr., 63, sitting on a bench at 300 SW 16th Ave, spokewoman Cpl. Angelina Valuri said. GPD issued a warrant for Jerkins’ arrest earlier this week.

Kerpan arrested Jerkins, who later confessed to the attempted robbery, Valuri said.

GPD publicly identified Jerkins as the lead suspect Tuesday. After police released surveillance photos of the attempted robbery Friday, a woman who said she worked with Jerkins at Labor Ready told GPD she knew the suspect, detective Martin Honeycutt said.

Jerkins allegedly walked into SunState Federal Credit Union, located at 405 SE Second Place, and told a bank teller he wanted to make “a large withdrawal,” according to police.

“Don’t play with me,” he said. “I want large bills.”

He handed the teller a bag, but she refused to give him any cash. Jerkins then walked out. The whole situation played out so quickly and so quietly, most other bank employees and customers didn’t even notice, police said.

On March 28, an unidentified man robbed PNC Bank on Northwest 13th Street, but officers do not believe Friday’s attempted robbery is related. That robber is younger and has a lighter complexion.

Contact Tyler Jett at tjett@alligator.org.

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