Man arrested in connection with bank robberies

Ricky L. Underhill, 35, of Bloomington, was arrested at about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday in connection with two recent Bloomington bank robberies, said Joe Qualters, Bloomington Police Department captain.

Qualters said Underhill admitted to robbing the Chase Bank at 100 S. College Ave. on Monday and the Fifth Third Bank at 3200 E. Third St. on Oct. 21.
He faces two preliminary charges of robbery.

Qualters said police received a call from the owner of a coin laundromat at 411 S. Woodcrest Drive. saying that he had recovered about $120 in bills from a change machine. The bills were stained with red dye.

While police waited for video surveillance footage from the laundromat, Detective Rick Crussen was driving in the area of Third Street and Smith Avenue when he saw a man who matched the bank robber’s description, Qualters said.

Crussen stopped the man, told him he matched the description of the bank robber, and asked if he could search his backpack, Qualters said. The man allowed Crussen to look in the backpack. Crussen found red dye, Qualters said. The dye was part of a dye pack a teller at Chase gave to the man during the robbery Monday. The pack explodes and releases red ink.

Crussen then identified the man as Underhill and brought him to the police station, Qualters said.

Upon questioning, Underhill admitted to robbing both banks, Qualters said. Underhill told police he had financial trouble, was unemployed and sells plasma to get by.
Underhill was taken to the Monroe County jail.

Qualters also recognized Crussen for his “heads up” work.

“This is another example of excellent police work on the part of Detective Rick Crussen,” Qualters said in an e-mail. “He was aware enough of the bank robbery suspect from the surveillance photos to recognize him even when he wasn’t wearing the same clothing from yesterday’s robbery. To have that presence of mind and make an arrest in such a short period of time is commendable.”