Deal Saver - brought to you by the Charlotte Observer

0 comments

Mystery bank robbery suspect is identified

By Steve Lyttle
slyttle@charlotteobserver.com

Posted: Thursday, Dec. 06, 2012

Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office - Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police say this man, whom they arrested after a South Boulevard bank robbery last week, is Richard Paul Wiley. Investigators say Wiley refused to give police his name, so CMPD asked the public for help. Tips from the public led to identification of the man, CMPD says. (Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office photo)

Store

The anonymous bank robbery suspect arrested last week by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police now has a name.

Investigators say the man they took into custody shortly after a Nov. 29 robbery at the Wells Fargo bank branch on South Boulevard was Richard Paul Wiley, 56. Wiley has been charged with common law robbery, carrying a concealed weapon, and resisting a public officer.

Police say numerous tips from the public helped them identify the man, who had refused to give police his name after being arrested.

The robbery occurred shortly before 4:45 p.m. Nov. 29. Police received a description of the suspect, and several CMPD officers acted on a hunch and boarded a Charlotte Area Transit System light rail train, thinking the bandit might have tried to escape that way. Officers said they found a man fitting the description of the suspect, and they also reported finding a handgun and money with the man.

The next day, CMPD reported they didn’t know who the man was, so they released a photo.

Subscribe to The Charlotte Observer.

The Charlotte Observer welcomes your comments on news of the day. The more voices engaged in conversation, the better for us all, but do keep it civil. Please refrain from profanity, obscenity, spam, name-calling or attacking others for their views. Read more Read less