A police dog named Maverick used a “controlled bite” to catch a Cheyenne man who robbed two banks, fled, and threw a hammer at the dog’s human police partner Thursday afternoon, officials say.
Officers were dispatched to a report of a robbery at Jonah Bank of Wyoming on Storey Boulevard at about 3 p.m., according to a statement the Cheyenne Police Department dispatched Thursday.
Witnesses said an adult male, later identified as Eric Smith, 34 of Cheyenne, entered the bank, threatened employees and demanded cash.
He took an “undisclosed” amount of cash from the bank and fled on foot, the statement says.
Officers arrived quickly and established a perimeter. While on scene, dispatch relayed a report of a stolen vehicle in the 300 block of Arbor Lane. Minutes later, they learned a second robbery was happening.
“Smith apparently used the stolen vehicle to drive to Western Vista Federal Credit Union” on Sparks Road, says the statement, adding that the man also threatened employees to gain cash there.
Police searched both banks.
By 3:57 p.m., authorities learned a man matching Smith’s description tried to burglarize a woman near the 2200 block of Meadow Drive, then fled toward Taft Avenue, the statement says.
Officers saw Smith walking along the sidewalk of Taft Avenue and ordered him to stop.
Instead, he threw a hammer, striking a police officer, says the statement.
A K9 officer – meaning a dog trained for policing – apprehended Smith.
“The K9 was given command for a controlled bite so that officers could the apprehend the suspect,” Alexandra Farkas, CPD spokeswoman, told Cowboy State Daily in a Thursday email.
The dog’s handler was the victim of the hammer strike, and he sustained mild injuries, she added.
Personnel took Smith to the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, after which he was cleared and booked into the Laramie County Detention Center, the statement says.
Police recommended three counts of aggravated robbery, one vehicle theft charge, and one charge of aggravated assault on a police officer.
The statement says the Cheyenne Police Department, FBI, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are working together on the ongoing investigation.
They Still Rob Banks?
Noam Mantaka was running errands around Storey Boulevard on Thursday afternoon and saw a succession of about eight police cars traveling extremely fast, he told Cowboy State Daily in a phone interview later that day.
They passed and he continued his day, only to encounter another three police cars jetting along Del Range Blvd.
“I was wondering, why only police? No fire trucks or ambulance?” said Mantaka.
It seemed irregular to him.
Later when he learned there’d been alleged bank robberies, Mantaka was even more surprised.
“I don’t know how they can rob banks today. It’s weird,” he said.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
