Alleged St. Paul bank robber indicted

The man who allegedly robbed a St. Paul bank last month and temporarily took a teller hostage was indicted in federal court on Friday.

Robert Russell, Jr. has been charged with one count of armed bank robbery in connection with the August 4 incident at Park Midway Bank.

The indictment alleges that Russell, 56, pulled a mask down over his face as he entered the bank and waved a handgun.

The St. Paul man allegedly stole $1,457 and ordered a teller to leave with him. The teller was able to escape and ran back inside the building. Russell then allegedly fired his gun at least once at an off-duty police officer who was working as a security guard at the bank. The officer was not hurt, and the robber fled alone in a van, prosecutors said.

Russell was arrested a day after the alleged robbery by Wisconsin state troopers responding to a vehicle crash. According to the indictment, Russell bought some clothes and a backpack at Wal-Mart immediately after the robbery. When officers arrived at the scene of the crash, they found $1,361 in cash inside Russell's backpack, the indictment alleges.

If convicted, Russell faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison.