Florida man in Mickey Mouse shirt arrested after series of bank robberies on August 10
PEMBROKE, FLORIDA: After a month-long spree of robberies across banks in South Florida, a Florida man was arrested and apprehended on August 10.
Kevin Heslop was allegedly responsible for half a dozen robberies that left law enforcement on high alert until his arrest after a police chase that led to a crash in Miami Gardens, according to CBS News Miami.
Who is Kevin Heslop?
Kevin Heslop, the serial bank robber donned a Mickey Mouse shirt during some of his heists. As per the FBI affidavit, the 38-year-old man targetted retail branches spanning from Plantation to Miami and left a trail of tellers on edge.
The agency claimed that Heslop committed six robbery attempts during his month-long spree, often employing a gun to intimidate bank staff.
His banking spree came to an end on July 26 after he tried evading police wearing his signature Mickey Mouse shirt and crashed into a utility pole in Miami Gardens.
Law enforcement authorities discovered freshly stolen cash from a bank inside his vehicle and also a loaded Glock 9mm pistol.
What are the charges against Kevin Heslop?
Following his arrest after the chase, a grand jury indicted the alleged robber on charges of robbery, possessing a firearm despite being a felon, and use of a firearm in furtherance of violent crime.
On August 11, Heslop entered a plea of not guilty during his arraignment, reported Miami New Times.
How was Kevin Heslop caught?
Investigators utilized facial recognition software to identify the alleged robber. According to the FBI affidavit, the suspect's identity was looked into further after a robbery at a Wells Fargo bank in Hallandale Beach on June 15.
CCTB footage from the bank showed a match to Heslop's photo in a state driver's license database. However, he committed another bank robbery at the same branch of Wells Fargo despite agents tracking his movements for three weeks.
Kevin Heslop's criminal history
The serial bank robber's criminal history includes him being convicted for robbing a Chase Bank in Miami Gardens. Following his conviction in 2015, he was sentenced to four years in prison.
Heslop was allegedly found in possession of the stolen pistol after he was chased and arrested despite his previous conviction and felony status.
Heslop's series of bank robberies resulted in the theft of at least $17,000, and now he faces new charges for his recent spree and the legal proceedings in his case unfold, according to NBC Miami.