PEORIA, AZ — Authorities say a man suspected in three recent bank robberies has been arrested after leading officers on a pursuit and crashing into their vehicles.
Around 6:05 p.m. Thursday police arrested 66-year-old George Mitchell near 115th Avenue and Happy Valley Road. Police say about five minutes earlier he had walked into the Wells Fargo at Lake Pleasant Parkway and Happy Valley Road and handed a teller a note demanding money. Another employee stepped in, and Mitchell left without any money.
An officer in the area saw Mitchell's vehicle leaving the parking lot and tried to get him to pull over. Mitchell took off west on Happy Valley.
Police attempted to block him in at 115th Avenue, and say Mitchell hit one police vehicle before backing up to hit another as two officers were getting out. The three officers were able to apprehend Mitchell and then went to the hospital for treatment of their injuries.
All have since been released.
Mitchell is also wanted for robberies at the Chase Bank near 99th Avenue and Happy Valley Road on January 24th and the Chase Bank at El Mirage and Vistancia on January 28th.
Unlike Thursday's attempt, in the two previous instances police say Mitchell was able to get away with cash.
