Sanborn bank robbed

A Sanborn man is behind bars after allegedly robbing Sanborn Savings Bank on Monday.

According to the O'Brien County Sheriff's Office, a 911 call was received at 1:02 p.m. reporting a robbery at the bank. Bank officials reported a black male entered the building and handed a teller a note. The note said that this was a robbery and demanded cash.

No weapons were displayed or referenced during the robbery. An undetermined amount of cash was taken from the bank at that time and the subject left the scene on foot.

"I don't think the incident itself lasted more than a minute," said Keven Van Meeteren, chief deputy/investigator at the O'Brien County Sheriff's Office.

Responding officers were on scene at the bank within minutes of the call and a suspect was developed by bank officials' description. A perimeter was set up by law enforcement around 201 W 5th St. in Sanborn, where the suspect lived. Announcements to the inhabitants of the residence were done by an Iowa State Patrol hostage negotiator. At approximately 2:10 p.m., Del Martinnez Evans, Jr., 40, of Sanborn, was taken into custody without incident.

As a precaution, schools, banks, daycares and additional businesses in Sanborn were advised to go into lock down status until areas were cleared by law enforcement. Evans was transported to the O'Brien County Jail, where sheriff's office investigators interviewed him.

Van Meeteren said money was recovered at Evans' residence. After allegedly committing the robbery, the suspect walked straight home, which is about 2 ½ blocks northwest of the bank. The property is owned by JRB Rentals, LLC, and sits directly southwest of the H-M-S Middle School at the intersection of O'Brien Street and West Fifth Street.

The Sanborn man was subsequently charged with Robbery 2nd Degree (Class C Felony) and Theft 2nd Degree (Class D Felony). He was booked into the O'Brien County Jail, with a bond of $15,000. Theft 2nd Degree encompasses the theft of property exceeding $1,500 but not exceeding $10,000 in value, or theft of a motor vehicle.

A search warrant for 201 W 5th St. was obtained and served by law enforcement. Officials were clear of the scene by 8 p.m. As of Tuesday afternoon, no other arrests had been made in connection to the case.

"The invesigation is still ongoing and we will release whether there are any further arrests regarding the incident if they happen," Van Meeteren said.

Agencies assisting on scene in Sanborn included the O'Brien County Sheriff's Office, Sanborn Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, Sheldon Police Department, Hartley Police Department, O'Brien County EMA, Sheldon Community Ambulance and O'Brien County Attorney's Office.