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FD man arrested in bank robbery

Wailes allegedly robbed Greene Co. bank Thursdsay

SCRANTON — A Fort Dodge man is being held in the Greene County Jail after law enforcement say he robbed a Scranton bank on Thursday.

According to the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Zachary Michael Anderson Wailes, 27, walked into the Peoples Trust and Savings Bank in Scranton just after 10:40 a.m. on Thursday while armed with a handgun. Wailes was able to get away with an undisclosed amount of cash.

On Wednesday, Greene County Sheriff Jack Williams told the Carroll Times Herald that he was seeking surveillance footage in the area to help identify the robbery suspect and the getaway vehicle, which was parked about a block from the bank.

Wailes was finally arrested in Story County around 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Williams said he cannot comment on the circumstances surrounding how Wailes was identified as a suspect or how he was later apprehended.

The Greene County Sheriff’s Office had assistance from the FBI, Gaming Enforcement, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, Carroll Police Department, Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, Lake City Police Department, Boone County Sheriff’s Office, Boone Police Department and Ames Police Department.

Wailes is a convicted felon with an extensive criminal history, including several recent incidents.

On Feb. 4, Wailes was involved in a high-speed pursuit in Boone County after a Boone police officer attempted to pull over a green Chrysler Pacifica that did not have license plates. Wailes, as the driver, eluded the police officer before eventually crashing the car and fleeing the vehicle. He was then apprehended and transported to the Boone County Jail. According to the criminal complaint from this incident, Wailes resides in Bayard, which is in Guthrie County. However, on the financial affidavit to apply for appointment of counsel, Wailes listed his address in Stuart, located in Adair County.

In December 2020, Wailes was arrested in Calhoun County on similar charges after he led Lake City police officers on a pursuit in a 2019 gray Dodge Charger with speeds in excess of 120 miles per hour. He was also charged with driving while barred.

He was being held in the Sac County Jail on $12,000 cash-only bond for the pursuit and driving while barred until early January. On Jan. 12, District Court Judge Gina Badding, Second Judicial District of Iowa, released Wailes on his own recognizance.

Wailes accrued more charges from this incident after the Dodge Charger he was driving was reported stolen out of Adair County. He was charged with first-degree theft in Adair County and released on his own recognizance by Magistrate Judge Michael Maynes, Fifth Judicial District of Iowa, on Jan. 13.

As of Sunday, Wailes was still being held in the Greene County Jail on charges of first-degree robbery, a Class B felony, and first-degree theft, a Class C felony. The robbery charge is punishable by up to 25 years in prison, while the first-degree theft charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Wailes had not had his initial appearance as of Sunday evening.

The Greene County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation into the Thursday bank robbery.

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