US Bank robbery suspect identified

A Romanian man has been identified as the suspect in the U.S. Bank robbery which occurred in Mt. Pleasant on Friday, Sept. 14.

On Friday, Sept. 21, the Mt. Pleasant Police Department identified Ionel Niculescu, 19, of Romania as the suspect in the bank robbery.

According to a news release, Niculescu is currently wanted out of Canada and another country and is part of a traveling gypsy band that targets coins shops, banks, jewelry stores, and large department stores.

He is being investigated by numerous agencies at this time. He was charged with Theft in the second degree and a warrant will be issued for his arrest.

Police responded to reports of a robbery at Mt. Pleasant's U.S. Bank, located at 301 E. Washington St., at approximately 11:45 a.m., last Friday. Niculescu was reported to have fled the scene in a white Dodge Ram truck with an undisclosed amount of money.

Niculescu was last seen heading north after the robbery. In response, the Mt. Pleasant Community School District went into lock down.

The Mt. Pleasant Police Department was assisted by several agencies and businesses including the All American Coins and Bullion in Cedar Rapids, Cedar Rapids Day School, Jeweler's Security Alliance, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, York Regional Police (UK), United States Custom and Border Patrol and numerous civilians who called in with information.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.