Man suspected in 4 bank robberies arrested after police chase

By Aida Ahmed

Published Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 | 2:58 p.m.

Updated Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 | 8:16 p.m.

Metro Police nabbed a man suspected in a series of bank robberies after the man allegedly robbed another bank this afternoon on the city's east side. He was arrested after a vehicle pursuit that ended about two miles away.

Police responded about 1 p.m. to the report of a robbery at a Wells Fargo branch at Nellis and Charleston boulevards. Officers received a description of the man that was similar to that of a man suspected in three earlier bank robberies within the past month, police spokesman Jacinto Rivera said.

Rivera said the man entered the bank while armed with a gun and told everyone inside to get on the floor. He then demanded money in Spanish and left the bank in a green car, police said.

An officer in the area spotted a car that matched the description of the vehicle seen leaving the bank. The officer followed the car after the driver failed to stop, Rivera said.

The officer then conducted a traffic maneuver to disable the man's vehicle, causing it to spin out near Sandhill Road and Wyoming Avenue, which is near the U.S. 95 and Charleston Boulevard interchange.

The man, identified as Jorge L. Machado, 44, was taken into custody at the scene. He has been charged with four counts of armed bank robbery, and will appear Monday before a United States Magistrate Judge.

"This is a great example of how to end a dangerous pursuit of a dangerous individual," Rivera said.

Machado is also suspected in the Aug. 5 robbery of a Wells Fargo Bank at 4215 East Charleston Boulevard, the Aug. 12 robbery of a Bank of America at 4111 East Charleston Boulevard, and the Aug. 16 robbery of a Wells Fargo Bank at 1700 East Charleston Boulevard, police said.