ATM User Sees Negative Balance, Robs Bank, Police Say

An arrest has been made in connection to an alleged robbery last week at the Bank of America, 2145 34 Street North.

James Patrick Andrews, 42, was arrested on Friday, Aug. 9, 2013. At the time of his arrest, Andrews was found in possession of crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia, police said.

Andrews confessed his role in the robbery to detectives and claimed that drug issues were the reason he committed the alleged crime, police said.

At the time of his arrest, he told detectives that he used the money to pay off a drug debt. But police say that he has not positively identified the person who allegedly sold him drugs.

Andrews was arrested early Friday afternoon at the Hess Gas Station, at 3225 34th Street North, in St. Petersburg. 

After the bank robbery on Aug. 9, police had identified Andrews as their suspect, as he used an ATM card in the bank just prior to the robbery, police said. 

When he learned that there was no money in his account, he approached one of the tellers and began asking why he had a negative balance.

Andrews then passed a note to the teller, which demanded $1,000. He  told her not to walk away from her window or people in the lobby would be hurt.  

He also told her that she needed to keep her hands up and not press any alarm buttons. But no weapon was seen. The teller complied.

After Andrews received the money, he left the bank and got into a beige Hyundai Sonata driven by another man.

A tag number to the car was obtained, and the vehicle was located and stopped
in the area of 38th Avenue North and 34th Street about an hour later.

The car was occupied by a woman and her three children. After questioning, it was determined that the woman's boyfriend had used her car earlier in the morning to give Andrews a ride to the bank.

When the boyfriend was questioned, he confirmed that information, but said he was unaware of the alleged bank robbery. The man said that Andrews had said nothing to him about it after he got back in the car.

He directed detectives to a motel on 34th Street North. Once there, detectives observed Andrews at a nearby Hess station.

Andrews is charged with one count of strong arm robbery, possession of crack
cocaine and drug paraphernalia. His total bond was listed at $12,150.