Police catch bank robbery suspect

TAUNTON, MASS. (WPRI) -- The suspect accused of robbing a Taunton bank, then stealing an SUV and nearly hitting a police officer has been arrested.

Taunton police say that they arrested 33 year-old Derek Powell of Taunton at the Red Roof Inn on Forbes Boulevard in Mansfield Saturday night.

Powell allegedly robbed the Webster Bank on Winthrop Street Saturday morning and claimed he had a bomb.  Powell fled with cash, stole a bank employee's SUV and drove it a few hundred feet to where his own truck was parked.

A detective went to Powell's home and encountered him there, but Powell tried to run the detective down with his vehicle.  The detective jumped out of the way and wasn't hurt, but Powell hit a house before fleeing again.

Police say that several hours later they were able to track him to the motel in Mansfield where he was arrested without incident while trying to wash dye from the bank dye pack off the money.

Powell is being charged with two counts of bank robbery and assault with a dangerous weapon; he's expected to be arraigned Monday morning.

Lieutenant Paul Roderick told Eyewitness News that State Police bomb technicians had to be called to the bank after the robbery because Powell left behind a backpack he said contained a bomb; technicians examined it and found no bomb.

Taunton police say the robbery was similar to one that occured at Mechanics Bank on Bay Street earlier in the week.