Serial Bank Robber in Custody

June 16, 2010 - PHOENIX, AZ—Phoenix FBI Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Nathan Thomas Gray announced the arrest of Timothy John Kestle for bank robbery. Kestle is allegedly the “Hot Head Bandit.” A criminal complaint was filed on June 8, 2010, in U.S. District Court, District of Arizona, charging Kestle with armed bank robbery. The complaint alleges Kestle displayed a black semi-automatic handgun and gave verbal demands for money during each of the robberies.

On January 20, 2010, Kestle allegedly robbed two tellers at the First Arizona Savings Bank, located at 4915 West Bell Road, Phoenix, Arizona. He held a gun, ordered the tellers to, Ggive me all your money,” and ran away with the stolen money.

On April 5, 2010, Kestle allegedly robbed the Washington Federal Savings located at 1010 West Chandler Heights Road, Chandler, Arizona. FBI Bank Robbery Task Force members canvassed the surrounding businesses and were able to obtain video surveillance footage, showing an unknown white male parking a small pick-up truck near the bank, exiting the truck and walking towards the bank. A short time later, the video surveillance footage showed the unknown male running from the bank to the small pick-up truck and drive through the parking lot. Through further investigation the pick-up truck was identified as a Dodge Dakota Sport, 4x2 pick-up truck made between the years of 1993 and 1997.

On April 7, 2010, Kestle allegedly robbed the Compass Bank, inside the Albertson’s grocery store located at 18411 North Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, Arizona, where Kestle allegedly showed his firearm and robbed three tellers, two of whom gave him money from their drawers.

On June 7, 2010, officers from the Peoria Police Department observed a white Dodge Dakota matching the description of the vehicle leaving the scene of the April 5, 2010, bank robbery of the Washington Federal Bank in Chandler, Arizona. Upon contact with the driver, Peoria Police Department Detectives recognized the driver from previous law enforcement bulletins from the FBI and the Phoenix Police Department. The driver was identified as Timothy John Kestle. Follow-up investigation by FBI’s Bank Robbery Task Force has allegedly linked Kestle to numerous bank robberies.

“The FBI commends our law enforcement partners on the bank robbery task force and the Peoria Police Department for their fine display of investigative skills in identifying the “Hot Head Bandit”, stated SAC Gray. This arrest illustrates the effectiveness of task forces, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the cooperation within the law enforcement community.”

A complaint is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecution in this matter is being handled the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona.