Davenport police act quickly after bank holdup

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By Thomas Geyer | Wednesday, December 21, 2005 12:36 PM CST | () comments

A bank robbery suspect may have been using the 5 p.m. rush-hour chaos to aid his getaway Tuesday.

But the plan did not account for an alert Davenport police officer who was working a security detail at a nearby jewelry store.

Police caught a man within minutes after the robbery of Southeast National Bank, 2036 E. River Drive, which is on the same block where officer Chuck Lee was working part-time at Expressions Jewelers, 2010 E. River Drive.

The incident began at 4:59 p.m., when a man wearing a face covering, a black hood and green overalls entered the bank, police said. Armed with a shovel and a knife he demanded money. When the man ran out of the bank, he passed the front windows of the jewelry store.

“I saw this guy run by the window and, just a few seconds later, I heard the tone from my radio and the announcement there had been a bank robbery at the Southeast National Bank,” Lee said.

Roger Peet, co-owner of Expressions, said Lee “flew out the door.”

The suspect ran under the nearby train trestle and into Indian Springs Park on the north side of River Drive.

“I got into the park and didn’t see him,” Lee said. “I know this area real well. I stood still for a few seconds and waited until he moved.”

Sure enough, the suspect bolted from the park, leaving behind the money and his weapons, police at the scene said. Lee said the man crossed River Drive, avoiding the heavy traffic. By that time, patrol units either were on the scene or approaching quickly.

Sgt. Mike Colclasure pulled his car into the parking lot of Lindsay Park Marina, 2100 E. River Drive, and began searching.

“We caught him behind the Iowa-American Water Company,” Colclasure said. “He was wearing black clothing. He must have seen the squad car lights because he laid down, I guess hoping we would miss him. But with that dark clothing he was wearing, we spotted him pretty quickly.”

Arrested was Carey Moore, 54, of 1719 Christie St., Davenport. He was taken to the Davenport Police Department for questioning. He later was charged with robbery first-degree.

Throughout most of the chaos, Quad-City natives Mike Harris, 24, a law school student, and Katie Gimbel, 24, a medical student, both of whom live in Iowa City, patiently continued to choose their wedding rings with Peet’s assistance. “Young love,” Peet said with a smile.

Pointing at Lee, he added, “He gives us peace of mind from a consumer standpoint. He makes sure everyone gets to their cars.”

But Lee gives peace of mind from a business standpoint, too. About three years ago on Christmas Eve, Peet said a pickup truck pulled up to the end of his building and two men got out.

“They saw Chuck standing here and they turned around and walked back to the truck and backed out,” Peet said. “It was obvious the store was being cased.”

There also a previous robbery at the Southeast National Bank branch in the Village of East Davenport. It was in August 2004, the day when President Bush and challenger U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., were in Davenport on the same day, stumping for votes just a few blocks from one another.

Thomas Geyer can be contacted at

(563) 383-2328 or tgeyer@qctimes.com.