PHOENIX—Police here say they have arrested the “Average Joe” robber after he robbed a credit union branch in front of a detective who was working the case.
Authorities said Tyler Trammell, 27, is accused of robbing five banks/credit unions since April 2. He earned the nickname after several witnesses described him as an “average Joe.”
According to police, Phoenix detective Steve Paul was interviewing Walmart employees at 19th Avenue and Bell Road when he noticed a bank teller at the in-store Desert Schools Federal Credit Union giving money to a man who looked like the "Average Joe" bank robber. After the man left, the detective confirmed with the teller that he had just been robbed, and the detective pursued the suspect as he was about to enter a taxi.
Paul said that after identifying himself as a police officer Tramell initially tried to run before obeying commands and was taken into custody.
Police said Trammel told them, "I needed the money."