A Portland man made his first appearance in court Friday morning in connection with the robbery Tuesday of a US Bank branch in Vancouver.
According to a probable cause affidavit, David Hercules Buchanan, 36, entered the US Bank inside the Fred Meyer on Columbia House Boulevard before 2:45 p.m. Tuesday.
A clerk at the bank told police a man came to her teller window and passed her a note, and she saw he was holding a black handgun, according to court records.
The teller handed the man about $3,400 in cash, then he left, according to court records.
Vancouver police officers reviewed surveillance footage and saw a man get in a later-model blue minivan and drive toward state Highway 14.
After releasing information on the robbery, officers said, they received multiple tips identifying the suspect as Buchanan.
Records indicated he’d been contacted by an officer while driving a blue Ford Windstar minivan, and one tipster said he worked at Burger King in Washougal.
Officers found Buchanan there Thursday afternoon and arrested him on a separate warrant from county district court.
In an interview, Buchanan admitted to robbing the bank and told officers the weapon he brought was a BB gun, according to court records.
Superior Court Judge Robert Lewis set Buchanan’s bail at $100,000.
Buchanan’s next hearing, an arraignment, is set for Oct. 22.
