Hammond cop shot by bank robbers, police nab 2 suspects in Gary
By Carole Carlson ccarlson@post-trib.com | 648-3154 December 21, 2012 12:28PM
Hammond police photograph bullet holes and a shot out window on a Hammond officer's vehicle as the investigate the scene of a bank robbery at the BMO Harris Bank at 7250 Indianapolis Boulevard in Hammond, Ind. Friday December 21, 2012. A Hammond police officer responding to the robbery was shot at the scene and transported to the hospital. The two suspects were later captured in Gary. | Stephanie Dowell~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: January 23, 2013 6:07AM
HAMMOND — Hammond and Gary police quickly captured two bank robbery suspects Friday after they shot and wounded a Hammond police officer.
The two suspects, David Hardin and Brealon Miller, both 24, of Gary, were charged with armed bank robbery Friday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Hammond.
The 34-year-old police officer suffered three gunshot wounds in his leg.
Hammond Police Chief Brian Miller said the suspects fired eight shots at the 34-year-old officer, who was still in his vehicle. Three shots penetrated the vehicle door, striking the officer in the left leg.
Chief Miller said the officer, who has not been identified, is in stable condition at Community Hospital in Munster, and police didn’t consider his injuries life-threatening. He has been on the force for 13 months.
Within 30 minutes, Hammond and Gary police captured Hardin and Miller in Gary, near 8th Avenue and Hovey Street.
A 9mm semi-automatic handgun and cash were recovered after the capture.
The incident unfolded at 10:49 a.m. at the BMO Harris Bank, 7250 Indianapolis Blvd. in the city’s Woodmar neighborhood.
Miller said a bank customer was on the phone talking with someone at the bank and became concerned that something was amiss at the bank. The customer called police.
Miller said the suspects instructed a teller to hand over money and the teller complied. Miller said at least one suspect had a bandanna covering his face.
The robbery was recorded by the bank’s video camera system. Shell casings dotted the bank parking lot as bank employees and customers stood outside while police officers and FBI agents processed the scene.
Other Hammond police officers pursued the fleeing suspects as they drove from the scene, and with assistance from Gary police “we were able to box them in,” Miller said.
Police arrested one man immediately and the second was nabbed near a home, a few yards away.
Miller said none of the bank employees or customers was hurt in the robbery.
Miller said police and the FBI were investigating a possible connection with a bank robbery at Midwest Bank, 10858 Pike St. in Winfield at 10:32 a.m. Friday where a black male displayed a gun and fled the scene.
