Sage Kiernan-Sherrow |  News Editor

Monmouth Police Department responded to a 9:50 a.m. call on May 14, after an alarm went off at Washington Federal Bank on Main Street. An unarmed man had approached the drive-thru window and demanded that the teller hand over $1000 and threatened to kill the employee if they did not comply. The employee gave him the cash and he retreated through the Shell gas station nearby. 

According to Sergeant Kim Dorn, “everyone including the Chief responded to the area,” where they were able to ascertain through video evidence that the suspect was 28-year-old Michael Edward Alfrey. The officers searched the area, later requesting the assistance of the FBI, who eventually located him in Tigard. According to Dorn, the arrest went smoothly due to the cooperation of everyone involved. As to why Alfrey did it, Dorn stated that they weren’t allowed to comment.

Based on a statement from the Monmouth Police, the Statesman Journal labeled Alfrey as a “transient” and revealed that he was charged with second-degree theft and third-degree robbery and is currently being held at the Polk County Jail on a $22,500 bail.

Dorn said this event is “very out of the ordinary for Monmouth,” and suggested that citizens subscribe to flashalertnews.net if they wish to receive more press releases about cases such as this in the future.

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo by Rylie Horrall