This morning at 10:39 AM, Champaign Police responded to the First Bank and Trust located at 2911 Crossing Ct, Champaign, for a reported armed bank robbery. Upon arrival, it was determined that an armed robbery had occurred and an undetermined amount of currency had been taken from the business. No injuries were reported by three bank employees present at the time of the armed robbery.
The suspect entered the bank while armed with what appeared to be a handgun, and demanded money. The suspect was last seen fleeing from the bank on foot.
An employee of the bank followed a vehicle that was believed to contain the suspect from the Cherry Hills subdivision near the bank. The vehicle drove to a residential neighborhood near the 1400 block of West Springfield Ave in Champaign. Officers arrived in that neighborhood, and a suspect was arrested outside. The vehicle which was believed to transport the suspect from the bank robbery, as well as evidence from the bank robbery was seized.
The arrestee is Edward Jovel Peppers, age 37, with an address in the 1400 block of West Springfield Ave, Champaign. After being interviewed, he was taken to the Champaign County Jail. Urbana Police are also seeking charges against him for an armed bank robbery that occurred on December 4, 2015 at First Financial Bank, 2510 S. Philo Road, Urbana.
Champaign Police are continuing to investigate this bank robbery. If anyone has information regarding this incident, please call the Investigation Division at (217) 351-4545 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at (217) 373-8477. Callers can also submit anonymous tips online to Crime Stoppers at www.373tips.com or by texting the following: CCTIP plus the information to 274637 (CRIMES).
Contact: Troy Daniels | 217-403-6909 | [email protected]