Sheridan man charged with robbing Salem bank

Photo courtesy Salem Police##A Sheridan man crashed his car west of Sheridan following a 25-miile pursuit after allegedly robbing a Key Bank branch in Salem Friday.

Photo courtesy Salem police##Multiple law enforcement agencies finally caught up with the Salem bank robbery suspect.

Richard Whittington

SALEM - A Sheridan man has been charged with robbing a Key Bank branch and leading Salem police and Polk County sheriff's deputies on a 25-mile pursuit before crashing his vehicle west of Sheridan Friday.

Richard Louis Whittington, 43, was lodged in the Polk County Jail in Dallas without bail on one count each of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer and reckless driving. He was also in violation of his post-prison supervision.

Salem police Lt. Dave Okada gave this account:

Shortly before 6 p.m., officers responded to the bank located at 1500 Edgewater St. NW on a report of a robbery.

Whittington, identified as the suspect by police, was seen driving from the area in a 1999 BMW sedan. When officers attempted to stop him, he sped off westbound on Highway 22.

Speeds reached more than 100 mph as the pursuit continued westbound.

Polk County deputies joined Salem police as Whittington turned off the highway northbound on to Red Prairie Road.

He continued on Red Prairie, a two-lane twisty road, and crossed Highway 18 before crashing the vehicle into Grand Ronde Tribal police units. The vehicle was abandoned and Whittington fled on foot. He was quickly located and taken into custody. abandoned it and fled on foot. He was quickly taken into custody.

Salem police and the FBI continue to investigate the case.