ST. PETER (TEC News) -- The Minneapolis man arrested Tuesday afternoon in St. Peter for the robbery of a bank in Brewster is believed to be also responsible for the robbery of a bank in St. Peter several weeks ago.PHOTO -- Photo of man robbing Wells Federal Bank in St. Peter on December 22, 2011.
"The FBI is probably going to release (today) that they believe it is the 'Man in Black' that they have so dubbed him," said St. Peter Police Chief Matt Peters.
Around 1:11 p.m., a St. Peter police detective observed a silver-colored Ford Edge northbound on Highway 169 south of St. Peter. Peters says his detective radioed that a lone white male was driving the car.
The vehicle was stopped in St. Peter and the driver was taken from the vehicle.
"It was like any other traffic stop," said Peters. "No drama and the driver was cooperative."
St. Peter police had determined that a light-colored Ford Edge SUV had been seen near the Wells Federal Bank in St. Peter when it was robbed December 22nd.
Detectives also believed that this prolific bank robber probably lived in the metro area and based on these inferences, St. Peter police then began to monitor traffic on the most direct route from Brewster to the metro area, Highway 169.
"Good street cops are doing this every day, looking for suspect vehicles in various crimes," said Peters.
As far as the St. Peter arrest of the bank robbery suspect?
"It's damn good police work," said Peters.
The driver of the car, 49-year-old Mark Edward Wetsch, was arrested for the Brewster bank robbery charges. He's in custody in Nobles County, according to Peters.
The various bank robberies remain under investigation, according to Peters.
Anyone that has information can contact St. Peter Police at 507-931-1550 or the FBI at 612-376-3200.