By Jim Hannah
The Cincinnati Enquirer

FLORENCE - Northern Kentucky police captured a bank-robbery suspect about 15 miles from the PNC branch that was held up Tuesday afternoon.

Richard Washam, 45, with addresses in Monticello, Ky., and Michigan, was being held at the Boone County jail. Lt. John David of Florence police said Washam is expected to be in federal court in Covington this morning on robbery and firearms charges.

Just before 3:30 p.m. a man walked into the PNC branch on Mall Road and told a teller he would shoot her if she triggered the silent alarm. The robber then grabbed a wad of cash from the teller's hand and walked out.

A bank employee wrote down the license plate number of the vehicle the robber got into and called police.

Boone County Sheriff's Deputy Eric Phillips spotted a Ford Explorer matching that description minutes later traveling south on Interstate 71/75 towards Lexington.

Sheriff's deputies, with the assistance of Florence police, stopped the SUV at the Dry Ridge exit of Interstate 75 and arrested Washam.

A silver-colored handgun was seized along with cash. Davis said Tuesday afternoon that officers hadn't counted the money. Bank officials didn't release the amount taken.

Major Jack Banks of the Boone County Sheriff's Department said the arrest was made with cooperation. "It is very unusual to get this good of a description of the vehicle," Banks said. "Everything just fell into place."

E-mail jhannah@enquirer.com