MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A 35-year-old man suspected of robbing a Bank of America branch in Miami Beach last month was apprehended following a police investigation, authorities confirmed Tuesday.
The robbery occurred on Aug. 15 at the bank located at 7474 Collins Avenue at around 3:30 p.m.
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Miami Beach police said Alex Joseph Vican, who was wearing a black hat and a jacket with “Bryant Security” patches at the time of the incident, approached the teller and handed him a small 3x5 note that stated, “I was kidnapped and sent here to rob you, and I was told if don’t comply, they will kill me.”
Police said the teller, fearing for his life, quickly complied with Vican’s demands and handed over approximately $6,000 in cash.
Authorities said Vican then fled the scene, escaping on a black and white scooter, heading westbound on 75th Street from Collins Avenue.
Miami Beach police officers responded swiftly to the bank after receiving reports of the robbery in progress.
Detectives said they were able to gather surveillance footage from inside the bank and nearby city cameras. The footage showed Vican entering the bank, approaching the teller, and later fleeing the scene on his scooter, according to investigators.
Authorities said still images from the footage were distributed to officers who recognized Vican from a previous encounter. Detectives confirmed they had previously interviewed Vican last October in connection with another Miami Beach case.
During the investigation, police said the Bank of America branch manager informed detectives that he recognized Vican as a former customer whose accounts had been closed due to prior issues at another branch.
Detectives continued to track Vican’s movements and discovered surveillance footage of him fleeing the robbery scene and entering an abandoned construction site on Harding Avenue.
Crime scene technicians responded to the location, where detectives said they recovered the black hat and jacket Vican wore during the robbery. The items were sent to the crime lab for DNA analysis.
On Aug. 19, law enforcement officers from the Broward Sheriff’s Office made contact with Vican in Broward County.
Following this encounter, the MBPD continued to gather evidence, including a photo lineup on Aug.26, in which the bank teller, identified Vican as the individual who had robbed the bank.
Jail records show Vican is facing one count of armed robbery with a firearm.
As of Tuesday, he is being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.