Duo arrested after Newport bank robbed
Bonner County Daily Bee | UPDATED 18 years AGO
—Photo by TERRI IVIE<br>Josh Devore is escorted from the Willow Glen Apartments in Newport after he was arrested in connection with the robbery of the Bank of America on Monday morning.
NEWPORT — Two bank robbery suspects were arrested following a two-hour standoff at a Newport apartment building Monday.
Joshua Devore, 23, California, and Benjamin Pontnak, 28, of Oregon, were taken into custody by the Washington State Police and the Spokane SWAT team.
According to police, the men entered the Bank of America on Washington Avenue in Newport. One displayed a firearm and told the teller he'd like to make a withdrawal. The men fled with an undisclosed amount of money.
A woman waiting in a car outside drove the men to her Willow Glen Apartment. Police said the woman was an acquaintance of the men but didn't know of their plans inside the bank and has not been charged.
Police tracked the suspects to the apartment, where they were arrested.
Local schools were locked down turning the standoff.
The FBI is investigating the robbery along with the Pend Oreille County Sheriff's Office.