Bank robbery suspect apprehended in North Fort Myers
An anonymous tip received late Monday night led to the arrest of a man accused of robbing a bank in Cape Coral.
The U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force was told that Lawrence Charles Derby was at a Motel 6 located near the intersection of U.S. 41 and Hancock Bridge Parkway. Task force officers and Cape police arrived at the motel and found Derby sitting on the sidewalk, officials reported.
Derby, 42, of 1117 Laurel Drive, North Fort Myers, was placed under arrest and transported to the Lee County Jail. According to booking records, he was charged with one count of robbery no firearm or weapon.
Derby remained at the jail on $30,000 bond as of Tuesday afternoon. He has a court date set for Feb. 7.
On Friday, the Cape police responded to a robbery at the BB&T Bank, at 2223 Del Prado Blvd., S. A man reportedly had entered the bank, handed the teller a note demanding cash and indicated that he had a weapon. After being given an undisclosed amount of cash, the robber fled the bank.
Witnesses told police that they saw the man get into a gold Ford Expedition.
Officers later located an abandoned gold Expedition not far from the scene, according to officials. Based on the evidence collected, detectives developed probable cause for the arrest of Derby in connection to the bank robbery.
It was unknown Tuesday if Derby had an attorney.