Police: Arrest Made After Rockville Bank Employee Tied Up, Put in Trunk

Police said an arrest has been made in the Rockville bank robbery that involved the kidnapping of a bank employee who was robbed at gunpoint and forced into the trunk of the bank robber’s vehicle.

Michael Patrick, 45, of the 1200 block of Autre Court in Rockville, was charged with armed robbery, kidnapping and a weapons offense stemming from the Oct. 29 robbery of SunTrust bank at 1475 Rockville Pike, police said in a news release.

A bank employee had just opened the branch when he was confronted near a parking garage on Halpine Road. Police said the worker was forced at gunpoint to get into the robber’s vehicle and was driven back to his own vehicle and robbed. Then the robber tied up the employee’s legs and arms and ordered him into the trunk.

Police said the robber drove back to the SunTrust, ordered the man out of the vehicle and proceeded to rob the bank. 

Police said Patrick was arrested in Washington on Oct. 31. He has since been charged in connection with two armed robberies at the Dollar Tree at 1776 E. Jefferson St. in Rockville on Aug. 17 and Oct. 19.