Machete-wielding man arrested after barricading himself in Yakima bank

A 29-year-old Yakima man, armed with a machete, entered a bank on Monday with an alleged intention to rob the bank and later barricaded himself inside.

At approximately 4:50 p.m., the Yakima Police Department (YPD) responded to BMO Bank located in the 500 block of E. Yakima Avenue, YPD announced.

Bank employees called 911 to report that the suspect entered the bank with a machete, alarming both employees and customers.

Suspect calls 911, telling dispatchers he intended to rob the bank

The suspect had also called 911, stating that he had intended to rob the bank. YPD officers and Yakima County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the scene.

All employees and customers were able to safely evacuate the building. Officers began to negotiate with the suspect, who was armed with several edged weapons, including a machete.

The Yakima Valley Crisis Response Unit also responded to the scene. Negotiators continued to communicate with the suspect, who eventually exited the bank and was taken into custody without further incident.

The suspect was placed under arrest for first-degree robbery, second-degree malicious mischief, second-degree computer trespassing, and weapons apparently capable of producing bodily harm.

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