(COLUMBIA, MO) - A situation involving a bank robbery and possible explosive device ended safely thanks to public safety agencies. Columbia Police officers were called to a bank robbery at the Commerce Bank located inside Hy-Vee, 3100 West Broadway, on Aug. 24 at 11:20 a.m. The suspect fled on foot in an unknown direction with an undisclosed amount of money. Officers quickly arrived on scene. The initial assessment determined the suspect's note given to the teller stated he had an explosive device with him. Staff and customers evacuated the building.
Several public safety agencies arrived on scene to help locate the suspect and determine if there was an explosive device. Officials located a suspicious package in the suspect's vehicle which was in the Hy-Vee parking lot. Members of the Bomb Squad were able to safely detonate the package in a controlled manner. The area was determined safe and the store and bank reopened.
Shortly after the incident, officers located and arrested Jeffrey Alan York, 59, of Columbia for 1st Degree Terroristic Threat and 1st Degree robbery. York is being held at the Boone County Jail.
The City of Columbia would like to thank the employees, managers and customers of Hy-Vee and Commerce Bank for their cooperation and assistance. Additionally, the City wants to thank the many agencies who assisted in ending the incident safely, including: Columbia Police Department, Columbia Fire Department, University of Missouri Police Department, Boone County Sheriff's Department, Missouri Highway Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
