Arrest Made in Bank Robbery Investigation
On June 5, 2015 at approximately 9:17AM, Champaign Police responded to the First Financial Bank located at 1611 S. Prospect Avenue for a reported bank robbery. Upon arrival, Champaign Police determined an unknown suspect had entered the bank, produced a note demanding money, and fled the bank with an undetermined amount of currency.
Champaign Police Detectives continued to investigate this incident and subsequently developed information leading to the identity of a suspect. On June 10, 2015, an arrest warrant was issued for Harvey Blakely, a 29-year-old male from Champaign for the offense of Robbery. Bond on the warrant was set at $380,000.
On Wednesday, June 17, 2015, Champaign Police Detectives, along with the United States Marshals Service Great Lakes Fugitive Task Force, arrested Blakely in the 1100 block of W. Church Street in Champaign. Blakely was arrested without incident and transported to the Champaign County Correctional Center pending formal charges by the Champaign County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Champaign Police Detectives continue to investigate this incident and ask that anyone with information contact the Champaign Police Department Investigations Division at 217-351-4545.
Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers. Crime Stoppers calls are routed to a third-party national call center that receives the information, completes a tips information form, and passes the tip information to the appropriate law enforcement agency. Caller ID tracking is not utilized by Crime Stoppers, and conversations are not recorded.
Anonymous tips can be shared by phone at: 217-373-8477 (TIPS); online at www.373tips.com; or by texting “CCTIP” plus the crime information to 274637 (CRIMES). Crime Stoppers will pay a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of the person(s) responsible for this crime.