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PARKERSBURG -- The Parkersburg Police Department has obtained an arrest warrant for Robert Van Campbell, 23, of Malta, Ohio, for the bank robbery last week at Community Bank, Parkersburg Police Chief Joe Martin said Thursday.
The investigation revealed that Campbell entered the Parkersburg bank around 9:30 a.m. March 5 and allegedly handed the teller a note, Martin said. This note declared that Campbell was there to commit a robbery and further stated that he had a grenade and three other friends were outside with assault rifles, Martin said.
The note instructed the teller to not act out of character or scream or the suspect would call for his friends and that he would detonate the grenade, killing both of them, Martin said. The teller complied with the demands and the suspect exited the bank with an undisclosed amount of U.S. currency and fled the area, Martin said.
"Detectives secured video surveillance from surrounding locations, to include the Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority," Martin said.
Martin said the video revealed that a person matching the description of the suspect was at this location prior to the robbery, carrying a Coke soda can during the time he was at the parking garage.
"Detectives were able to retrieve the same Coke can at this facility. The evidence technician processed this aluminum can and fingerprints were recovered from the can to be examined at the State Crime Lab," Martin said.
According to Martin, the search revealed a match and identified Robert Van Campbell.
Further investigation revealed the fingerprint proved to be vital in the correct identification of the robbery suspect, Martin said.
"This identification led Parkersburg Detectives to Malta, Ohio, where the suspect resides," Martin said.
On Tuesday, Parkersburg Police detectives went to Morgan County, Ohio, and obtained a search warrant for the residence of Campbell in Malta. The Morgan County Sheriff's Office, Washington County Sheriff's Office and the Zanesville Police Department assisted in the execution of this search warrant, Martin said.
Detectives collected evidence at this location that aided this robbery investigation as well as a second armed robbery, Martin said. Detectives also discovered that Campbell allegedly committed an armed robbery in Zanesville, Ohio, in January, Martin said.
"The defendant was apprehended and arrested on March 10 in a traffic stop a short distance from his home, prior to law enforcement searching his residence," Martin said.
Campbell was taken into custody by the Zanesville Police Department and charged later with bank robbery. He remains incarcerated in Ohio and will be extradited back to Parkersburg upon his release, Martin said Thursday.
Martin said detectives are following up on additional information. Anyone with information regarding this robbery is asked to contact Detective D.D. Sturm at 304-424-8444.