By By SPIROS GALLOS / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Niles Township Police took part in the multi-department pursuit of a suspect in the robbery of a Berrien Springs bank Friday.
Capt. Jim Kesterke, of the Berrien Springs Police Department, said the Berrien Springs Fifth Third Bank, 201 W. Mars St., was robbed at approximately 11:04 a.m.
Two witnesses at the bank pursued the suspect on foot after he left and provided Berrien Springs Police with a description of the suspect's getaway vehicle.
The suspect's vehicle was a white GMC or Chevy pick up truck with a chrome grill with a yellow ribbon in it.
Berrien Springs and Michigan State police pursued the criminal on U.S. 31 and continued to pursue him when he got off the highway near Walton Road.
Police were led on a chase through the dirt roads surrounding the area and lost contact when the suspect drove off the road through some farmland.
Some time later, the suspect was seen traveling in Niles Township and was pursued by Niles Township Police.
After a brief vehicle chase, the suspect exited his vehicle and continued the chase on foot. Police lost contact with the suspect once again sometime between 1 and 2 p.m.
Thanks to photographs obtained from the bank security camera system, Berrien Springs police are confident they have a positive identification of the suspect.
The bank remained close all day Friday as police examined the crime scene for anything that may aid them in their investigation.
Berrien County Sherrif's Department Dep. Ron Bush, who was on the scene processing evidence for any clues that could help the case, also credited the bank security system with providing clear photographs of the suspect.
Bush did find physical evidence left from the suspect at the scene, but didn't reveal what kind of evidence it was.Keterke also credited the two witnesses who chased the suspect out of the bank for assisting the police.