Goodyear teen arrested for armed robbery, attempted bank theft

PHOENIX — The Goodyear Police Department has arrested a teenage boy for an alleged armed robbery, as well as attempted bank robberies, while traveling via taxi cab, authorities said.

The 16-year-old suspect — who has two prior armed robbery convictions — attempted to rob two banks and one credit union in the West Valley city, police said.

He was booked into Maricopa County Juvenile Detention on two counts of attempted robbery, one count of robbery and one count of armed robbery.

Around 11:30 a.m. Monday, officers responded to First Convenient Bank on McDowell Road and Estrella Parkway after reports that the suspect demanded money from a teller, reportedly saying he had a gun.

The teenager had already departed the bank on foot when police arrived, but they were able to see him getting into a yellow taxi cab, police said.

Police said the suspect was wearing a white hoodie, a face mask, sunglasses, dark pants, blue shoes and had blue gloves on.

Roughly 20 minutes later, Goodyear officers were called to Desert Financial Credit Union on McDowell and Dysart roads following reports of a suspicious person who matched the suspect’s description.

The teenager was asked to remove his mask while inside, but he left the area in a yellow taxi cab, police said.

Investigators then began working with Yellow Cab in order to get more information, authorities said.

On Tuesday afternoon, Goodyear officers were dispatched to Wells Fargo Bank on Indian School and Litchfield roads with reports of a suspicious person looking through a window that matched the suspect’s description. The suspect was then seen leaving in a yellow cab again, police said.

After detectives contacted Yellow Cab, the cab was found near Litchfield road in between Glendale Avenue and Bethany Home Road.

When Goodyear Police arrived, the teenager was seen fleeing the area, but officers were able to detain the suspect without incident, authorities said.

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