ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Authorities say a bank robber shot at a police officer before crashing a car near an I-275 ramp Thursday in St. Petersburg.
It's the second bank robbery he's been tied to this week and fourth total in recent months.
Thursday's ordeal began with a bank robbery around 10:50 a.m. at the MIDFLORIDA Credit Union at 2646 4th St. N.
Detectives say the man drove away with an undisclosed amount of money.
An officer then spotted his Toyota Corolla and tried to stop him. But, police say he pointed a gun at the officer and refused to stop. The officer kept following him, and investigators say the robber fired at least once at the officer.
The bullet missed the police officer but hit a work van that was passing by. Luckily, nobody was hurt.
The Toyota crashed on 22nd Avenue North near the ramp to I-275. No other cars were involved, and police captured the man.
Authorities say the accused bank robber has been identified as 51-year-old Charles Dana Combs of St. Pete.
According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, Combs is the same man who on Monday robbed the First Citizens Bank at 13700 Park Boulevard North in Seminole. Detectives say they interviewed him Thursday, and he admitted to that previous robbery.
But, that's not the only other case detectives are linking him to. Police say he was also involved in armed robberies at American Momentum Bank on June 23 and the same MIDFLORIDA Credit Union on July 7.
He's been charged with one count of armed robbery by the sheriff's office for the Monday robbery in Seminole. The St. Petersburg Police Department has charged him with two counts of attempted murder in the third degree, fleeing and eluding police, leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage, reckless driving with property damage or injury, being a felon in possession of a firearm and three counts of robbery with a weapon.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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