UPDATED: Arrest made in Akeley bank robbery; $2,525 cash still missing

A Park Rapids area man was arrested Wednesday night in connection with the robbery of an Akeley branch bank less than a week ago.

The 53-year-old man was taken into custody about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday night, Sheriff Frank Homer said. He was at his residence at the time.

The Hubbard County Sheriff's Office announced the arrest Thursday. He had not been charged in the case as of Thursday afternoon. The Pioneer does not generally name those accused of crimes until the suspect has been charged.

The $2,525 taken, however, was not recovered, Homer said.

"There's still a lot of follow-up that need to be done," he said. "You want to tie up loose ends."

On Wednesday night, two hours before the arrest, Homer told the Enterprise "we're getting calls, about a dozen tips so far. Not all of them are panning out but we're following up on them."

However, top officers within the Sheriff's Department were summoned by phone Wednesday evening to investigate those leads.

County Attorney Don Dearstyne said he is in the process of drafting the complaint. The suspect is expected to be arraigned on unspecified charges Friday morning in Hubbard County District Court.

First National Bank of Walker's branch in Akeley was robbed at gunpoint of an undisclosed amount of cash Friday evening about a half hour before closing time.

The three females tellers on duty told police the suspect was a stranger to them.

'We're extremely happy we can put a rest to this, especially this quick," a relieved Homer said.

The case has been investigated by the FBI, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and Hubbard County.

"I can't say enough about our guys" and the women investigators at all three agencies, Homer said.

"They've put in a lot of hours this week."

Homer did say it was a tip to local authorities that broke the case.