Police grab possible ‘Fantasia Bandit’ suspect

The Portland Tribune, Nov 5, 2009, Updated Nov 5, 2009

FRANKLIN AARON BEARCUB

Courtesy of MCSO

Portland police and FBI investigators arrested a man Wednesday afternoon they think is a suspect in the “Fantasia Bandit” robberies.

Police took 41-year-old Franklin Aaron Bearcub into custody at about 2 p.m. on an outstanding probation violation warrant following a freeway chase through Northeast Portland after two bank robberies about an hour apart Wednesday.

Bearcub is being held at the Multnomah County Jail without bail. He has not been charged with the bank robberies.

The Fantasia Bandit is a suspect in at least 10 local bank robberies that began in late September. In each of the cases a chubby man between 35 and 45 wearing a baseball cap, sunglasses and sometimes a “CCCP” sweatshirt went into the bank, demanded cash and left without showing a weapon. In an Oct. 31 robbery, the bandit threatened to kill a teller.

Police arrested Bearcub after a chase that ended at Northeast 11th Avenue and Burnside Street shortly after 2 p.m. The chase began on the Banfield Freeway after workers at the Albina Community Bank, 5636 N.E. Sandy Blvd., became suspicious of the man’s behavior when he was there and called police. That bank was not robbed.

The man left and drove on the Banfield toward Lloyd Center. Police caught up to him a few minutes later.

Police and FBI believe the Fantasia Bandit hit the HomeStreet Bank, 22 N.W. 23rd Ave., at about 1 p.m. Wednesday.

Banks offer reward

Early this week, the Oregon Financial Institutions Security Task Force offered a $5,000 reward for the capture and conviction of the Fantasia Bandit.

The bandit earned his nickname by twice robbing a Portland Fantasy For Adults Only store. The bandit could be responsible for a ninth robbery at a Dotty’s restaurant in North Portland.

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