Off-duty Cleveland cop nabs suspect after east-side bank robbery

CLEVELAND - The man who robbed a Cleveland bank Tuesday afternoon was quickly tracked down by an off-duty cop, Cleveland police said.

The 24-year-old man walked into the First Merit Bank on Harvard Avenue and handed the teller a note, saying “I have a gun.” The teller handed the man an undetermined amount of money.

While the man made his getaway, the teller told an off-duty Cleveland police officer that works a second job at the bank. Cleveland police said the officer chased down the suspect and the money was recovered.

The suspect was taken to the central prison unit, where he is awaiting charges. Cleveland police have released his name, but it is NewsChannel5 policy not to name a suspect until charges are filed.