(Le Mars) — The names and photos of the two people arrested Wednesday afternoon following the bank robbery of the Iowa State Bank have been released. Both suspects have been charged with eluding. They are 32 year old Phillip White and 35 year old Karen Merrick. Both are from Sioux City.
Robbery charges have not yet been filed by the Le Mars Police Department. The two may also face federal charges.
Phillip White – 32 years old Karen Merrick – 35 years old
The robbery took place Wednesday afternoon at the Iowa State Bank of Le Mars. The incident occurred at about 2:25 p.m. The suspects, thought to be a man and a woman, fled the robbery scene in a U-haul truck. Multiple law enforcement agencies then began searching for the U-haul. Within minutes of the robbery, the U-Haul truck in question was spotted by law enforcement agencies heading south on Highway 75. Le Mars Police Chief Kevin Vande Vegte informed the news media the pursuit then followed county roads.
Vande Vegte says authorities were successful at using “stop sticks” on the fleeing U-Haul.
Vande Vegte was not able to confirm whether a weapon was used during the bank robbery, however, he says a weapon was mentioned in the robbery. Police are awaiting for a search warrant, but Vande Vegte says money was found in the U-Haul truck.
Police are continuing their investigation into the robbery. Vande Vegte says the identities of the suspects is still to be determined, but he did say the suspects are not from the Le Mars area. Robin Jungarius of The Brew from across the street witnessed the suspects fleeing the bank. She says the suspects, a man and a woman had parked the U-haul truck at the Brew’s parking lot.
Charges have yet to be filed based on the investigation. Vande Vegte says the bank robbery and subsequent arrest were assisted by the Le Mars Police Department, Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office, Merrill Police, Hinton Police, Akron Police, Iowa State Patrol, the Iowa Department of Transportation, and the FBI.
