BULLHEAD CITY – A citizen tip has led to the arrest of the man alleged to be responsible for recent bank robberies one week apart in Kingman and Bullhead City. The jailed suspect is identified as John Steiner, 37, Bullhead City.
The citizen supplied information came Thursday night, shortly after law enforcement posted surveillance video images of the bank bandit and the pickup truck used in the robberies, along with the offer of reward money for help in solving the case.
Bullhead City police department spokeswoman Emily Fromelt said detectives connected the January 3 robbery of Mission Bank on Palma Way in Bullhead City and the January 10 robbery of the Mohave Community Credit Union on Stockton Hill Road in Kingman after determining through review of surveillance system video that the same suspect and vehicle were involved in both crimes.
Fromelt said Steiner visited the police department about 9 p.m., claiming someone who saw the Reward Offered post had threatened him at gunpoint while alleging he was the suspect. She said Steiner was placed in custody.
A warrant based search was conducted of the suspect vehicle Steiner drove to the police department to present his false report. Detectives reportedly located all the clothing, including sunglasses, hat and masks, that matched what he wore during the two bank robberies.
“Police also found the notes he used in the bank robberies demanding money from the bank tellers,” Fromelt said. She said Steiner was transported to Kingman and booked into the Adult Detention Facility.
Dave Hawkins
Bank bandit busted in Bullhead
