Money Recovered In Bank Robbery
Over $750 in cash was recovered by Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Detectives in Harrison Township Cemetery, earlier this week. The cash, taken during the Sept. 12 robbery of KeyBank, North Webster, had allegedly been buried by Derek Bruner.
Bruner, 24, who was arrested Sept. 22, has been charged with felony assisting a criminal, obstruction of justice and felony theft. His roommate, Zachary Springer, 28, was arrested Friday, Sept. 19. Springer has been charged with false informing, being a habitual offender, robbery a level 2 felony and theft.
Springer has also been implicated in placing a false telephone call to Wawasee High School prior to the robbery as a diversionary ploy. The phone call made a threat against a student, causing an external lockdown and sending multiple police agencies to the school.
Finding The Money
Officers had searched the Springer/Bruner residence after Springer’s arrest. They questioned Bruner about the robbery or if he knew of any evidence at the home. Officers did locate evidence implicating Springer. Several days later officers listened to phone calls between the two roommates. Officers heard Springer tell Bruner to look in certain locations for the money.
The affidavit of probable cause states Zachary Springer, who admitted to the robbery to police, had hid the money at his home. He told authorities Bruner told him the money was not where he, Springer, said it was located and Springer’s oxycodone medication was also not in the residence.
From their investigation, officers knew the medication was at the home, but not the money. Bruner later admitted he had found the money and buried it in the cemetery. He showed officers where he had buried the cash, allowing recovery of the money.
The Diversionary Call
Information contained in Springer’s affidavit of probable cause details the diversionary call to Wawasee High School and evidence found at Springer’s residence connecting him to the bank robbery.
The document states high school officials received an anonymous phone call at 8:52 a.m. with a male yelling he was chasing his younger brother, who was high on meth, holding a gun, claiming he was going to Wawasee High School to shoot himself.
Multiple officers from several agencies went to the school, which was placed on lockdown.
Detectives obtained phone information from the school’s phone service for a time frame of 8:45 a.m. to 9 a.m. Only one incoming call was found, providing officers with a phone number. They also discovered county jail records had that same phone number listed to Springer.
At 9:15 a.m. the alarm from KeyBank was received reporting a robbery had just occurred. Officers learned two teller stations were robbed by a male who had all of his skin covered with clothing and sunglasses. One of the tellers told police he walked up to the teller window, threw a bag on the counter and told her to fill the bag. He then jumped on the county, came over to her, pushing her aside. The teller was pushed into the counter, hurting her arm.
Banded money was taken from the bottom drawer before going to another teller’s drawer and also removing banded money.
During the investigation officers learned that Springer’s phone was used to call the bank at 4:07 p.m. the day before the robbery. Officers also learned the call had been made near CR 750E and CR 500N, a close proximity to the bank. Officers additionally found that that same location was used to place the call to the school.
Photos of Springer were found on his Facebook page showing him wearing identical sunglasses to those the robber was seen wearing in the surveillance video. A video on his Facebook page displayed shoes in a closet, one of those pair being identical to those shown by the robber in the bank’s video.
The investigation additionally uncovered that shortly after the robbery, Springer obtained a new cellular phone and a new number.
Police spoke to Springer’s girlfriend, who confirmed the shoes shown in the video were Springer’s and the address of his residence. She also told police Springer had promised her daughter his old phone, but it was not at her home, believing it was in a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu or at his home. Confirmation on the phone number was also received.
Springer was located driving his vehicle on Sept. 19, and was arrested on an outstanding warrant for false informing.
After searching Springer’s residence, police found in the trash gloves and sunglasses matching what was seen being worn by the robber at the bank.