ARLINGTON, Va. — A suspect is in custody after police said there was a bank robbery in Arlington on Tuesday afternoon.
According to a spokesperson from the Arlington County Police Department, officers were called for a reported armed robbery at a Wells Fargo in the 3100 block of Washington Boulevard just after 3 p.m.
Investigators claim a person walked into the bank and implied he had a weapon before demanding money. The suspect barricaded inside the bank with customers and employees as police arrived.
Officers at the scene gave commands for the suspect to come out, which he eventually did. He was taken into custody without incident. Four adults and one child safely exited the bank. No injuries were reported.
No weapon has been found but the bank was still being searched.
One of people inside shared video of her hiding behind a chair with her 4-year-old daughter. She told WUSA9 the suspect grabbed a manager by the neck.
"I see this guy coming and he said, 'Everybody go down! Everybody go down! Don't stand up!'" the woman, who wanted to conceal her identity, told WUSA9 soon after she was escaped. "He's a very strong guy. He kept saying, 'Give me the key, give me the key."
As soon as police entered the bank, a witness video captured an officer escorting the mother and daughter out of the bank.
Her husband Jean Paul Muende said he received about 10 calls from her from inside the bank. He called police to alert them about the attempted bank robbery.
"I'm so happy to see my family," Muende said.
At one point, Andrew Williams said he was stuck because of the active investigation.
He drove up to the scene as it was unfolding.
"A woman was frantically talking to police," Williams recalled. "I rolled down my window and I heard her saying, 'He's robbing the bank. He's in there robbing the bank.' All of a sudden they start yelling at all the cars here to get out, lock your doors and roll up your window and run."
Oscar Gonzalez Allarenja, 30, of Durham, North Carolina, has been charged with bank robbery and abduction. He is being held without bond in the Arlington County Detention Facility.
On Tuesday evening, Wells Fargo provided the following statement:
“The safety and security of our customers and employees is our most important priority, and we are incredibly relieved and grateful that the situation has been resolved with no physical injuries to any of our employees or customers. We are appreciative of the work of the Arlington Police Department in reaching a peaceful resolution and will continue to do everything we can to assist authorities as they investigate the situation.”
Investigators claim a person walked into the bank and implied he had a weapon before demanding money.