Seattle Safe Streets Task Force Arrests “Cyborg Bandit” wanted for series of bank robberies throughout two counties

The "Cyborg" bandit may also be
the Elephant Man bandit

On Tuesday, Seattle Safe Streets Task Force officers arrested a man whom they believe is both the “Cyborg Bandit” and the “Elephant Man” serial bank robbers.

Police are talking to the man about 30 bank robberies, including two in Shoreline - the Whidbey Bank on Ballinger and the US Bank

See our previous stories:

Cyborg bandit continues to hit banks

FBI seeks public help 

On February 11, 2014, shortly after 4:30 pm, the Seattle Safe Streets Task Force (SSSTF) arrested a 44-year-old man who resides in Everett, WA, immediately after he exited a Key Bank in the University District of Seattle.

SSSTF investigators nicknamed the bank robber who wore a metallic-like, textured fabric over his face the “Cyborg Bandit” because of the material’s similar appearance to cyborgs and cylons in science fiction productions. SSTF investigators nicknamed the bank robber who covered his head with a shirt or other material bearing two small eye holes the “Elephant Man Bandit” because of the similarity to a character in a movie of the same name. Combining bank robberies attributed to each nicknamed robber, the SSTF believes the subject in custody may be responsible for 30 bank robberies throughout King and Snohomish Counties.

Through the lengthy, joint investigation with partners across the two counties, SSSTF investigators identified a van they believed was associated with the “Cyborg Bandit.” Around 2 pm on Tuesday, February 11, 2014, the van with a lone, white, male driver began to drive around the Key Bank on 25th Avenue NE in the University District of Seattle. After two hours of apparent surveillance of the bank by the individual, he was observed putting on a mask and entering the bank. Key Bank reported a robbery by a masked man around 4:30 pm. When the previously observed individual exited the bank, SSSTF agents arrested the man on probable cause.

A search warrant was immediately sought for the subject’s North Everett residence. Everett Police Department served the search warrant at approximately 12:00 am (midnight), February 12, 2014, with the assistance of SSTF and other FBI personnel. Investigators recovered sufficient evidence to support proceeding with the investigation.

The SSSTF continues to investigate the bank robberies attributed to the Cyborg Bandit and/or the Elephant Man, including:

 February 11, 2014 (Tue) – Key Bank, Univ. Village Branch, Seattle, WA

 February 4, 2014 (Tue) – US Bank inside Fred Meyer, Lynnwood, WA

 Jan 24, 2014 (Fri) – Key Bank, Mukliteo, WA

 January 13, 2014 (Mon) – Banner Bank, Everett, WA

 January 4, 2014 (Sat) – Chase Bank, Lynnwood, WA

 December 31, 2013 (Tue) – Key Bank, Woodinville, WA

 December 16, 2013 (Mon) – Whidbey Island Bank, Everett, WA

 December 14, 2013 (Sat) – Wells Fargo, Bellevue, WA

 December 4, 2013 (Wed) – Sterling Bank Northgate, Seattle, WA

 November 30, 2013 (Sat) – Wells Fargo Totem Lake, Kirkland, WA

 November 13, 2013 (Wed) – Key Bank, University Village, Seattle, WA

 November 7, 2013, (Thu) – Home Street Bank, Marysville, WA

 October 30, 2013 (Wed) – Banner Bank, Everett, WA

 October 23, 2013 (Wed) – Whidbey Island Bank, Bothell, WA

 October 18, 2013 (Fri) – US, Shoreline, WA

 October 2, 2013 (Wed) – Banner Bank, Woodinville, WA

 September 24, 2013 (Tue) – Key Bank, Bellevue, WA

 August 29, 2013 (Thu) – US Bank, Mukilteo Branch, Mukileto, WA

 August 12, 2013 (Mon) – Whidbey Island, Mill Creek Branch, Mill Creek, WA

 July 17, 2013 (Thu) Whidbey Island, North Seattle, Shoreline

 July 12, 2013 (Wed) Whidbey Island, Woodinville Branch, Woodinville

 July 5, 2013 (Fri) Whidbey Island, North Creek, Bothell WA

 April 29, 2013 (Mon) Banner Bank Evergreen Way, Everett, WA

 April 26, 2013 (Fri) – Whidbey Island Bank, North Seattle, Shoreline, WA

 April 22, 2013 (Mon) – Bank of America, Everett, WA

 March 29, 2013 (Fri) – Whidbey Island Bank, Bothell, WA

 March 1, 2013 (Fri) – Whidbey Island Bank, Everett, WA

 February 19, 2013 (Tues) – Whidbey Island Bank, Mill Creek Branch, Mill Creek

 February 5, 2013 (Tues) – Banner Bank, Everett, WA

The bank robberies usually took place in the late afternoon and the subject (of both nicknames) generally wore latex gloves and covered his face.

The Seattle Safe Streets Task Force includes members from the FBI, Auburn Police Department, Bellevue Police Department, King County Sheriff’s Office, and Seattle Police Department. This joint investigation also combines the investigative and analytic expertise of the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office and Bothell, Edmonds, Everett, Mill Creek, Mountlake Terrace, Mukilteo, and Shoreline police departments.