Police say officers captured a suspect dubbed the “Sock Hat Bandit” after a bank robbery in northern Kentucky Thursday.
Officials say a man fitting the description of a robber suspected in at least nine bank robberies spanning three states walked into the Fifth Third Bank branch on Declaration Drive in Independence around 12:45 p.m. and handed a teller a note demanding cash. Police say the suspect left the bank with about $1,000.
A Kenton County Sheriff’s Office deputy working a crash along I-275 spotted a Honda Civic matching the suspect vehicle description. He said the fleeing robber was ramming cars along KY-17, trying to push his way through blocked traffic. The driver damaged at least two vehicles and tore the bumper off the Honda.
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Police say when the deputy got out of the car and approached the suspect, the fleeing robber accelerated toward the officer. The deputy fired three times, but did not hit the suspect.
Police say the robber continued driving to Indiana Avenue in Covington. Officials say speeds reached 100 mph during the pursuit. The suspect eventually crashed through a fence, hit a tree and abandoned the vehicle. The man then took off on foot. Police finally managed to chase the robber down along Beech Avenue and take him into custody.
Police identified the robber as Brian Parnell, 31, of Dayton, Ohio. Officers say he had cash and the note with him when they took him into custody.
Police say Parnell admitted to nine of the 10 area bank robberies.
Police dubbed the robber the “Sock Hat Bandit” because he wore different sock hats during past robberies. But Independence Police Department Capt. John Lonaker said Parnell was not wearing his signature head covering this time around.
“He was not wearing, according to video, he was not wearing the sock hat. I believe he had a hat on but it was not the sock hat,” he said.
Parnell faces numerous charges, including robbery, wanton endangerment, fleeing police and criminal mischief.
