U.S. Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
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U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation |
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| In Reply, Please Refer to Release No. |
219 South Dearborn Street Chicago, Illinois 60604 |
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March 10, 2006 SUSPECT IN "CLOWN" ROBBERY CHARGED Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Philip J. Cline, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department (CPD) announced today the arrest of CARLOS ARREGUI, also known as Paul Vassetti, age 51, whose last known address was 1500 North Bosworth Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. ARREGUI was arrested late yesterday morning by CPD Officers who were responding to a robbery alarm at the Chase Bank branch, located at 1700 North Wells Street. ARREGUI was charged in a criminal complaint filed late yesterday in U.S. District Court in Chicago with one count of bank robbery, which is a felony offense. According to the complaint, ARREGUI entered the Chase bank branch wearing a clown mask and blue rain poncho and approached a teller. He then displayed what appeared to be an assault rifle and threatened the teller and other bank employees with physical harm, if his demands for money were not met. He then ordered customers and employees to the floor, jumped onto the teller counter and began stuffing cash into his pockets. When the sound of police sirens was heard, ARREGUI fled the bank through the front door and attempted to make his escape on a bicycle. He was followed out of the bank by two customers, one of which was on off-duty CPD Officer, who subdued ARREGUI until CPD patrol units arrived. ARREGUI was subsequently turned over to the FBI. A substantial amount of the cash taken from the bank was recovered as was a toy weapon, which was believed to have been used by ARREGUI during the robbery. No injuries were reported. In announcing this arrest, Mr. Grant credited the heroism and quick response of the witnesses, whose involvement led to the apprehension of a suspected bank robber. "It is this type of citizen involvement that is essential for effective law enforcement in this era of limited resources, " said Grant. ARREGUI appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan, late yesterday afternoon, at which time he was ordered held without bond, pending his next scheduled court appearance. The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. EDITOR's NOTE: A copy of the complaint filed against ARREGUI is available from the Chicago FBI Press Office at (312) 786-2645.
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