Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Younger anglers now need own license ... Emergency services, March 4 ... Pot grows illegal on rural residential land in Jackson County ... Younger anglers now need own license ... Emergency services, March 4 ... Pot grows illegal on rural residential land in Jackson County ... Medford police nab Wells Fargo bank robbery suspect within minutes Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Mar. 2, 2016 at 5:32 PM Updated Mar 2, 2016 at 6:17 PM Posted Mar. 2, 2016 at 5:32 PM Updated Mar 2, 2016 at 6:17 PM » Social News An alleged bank robber is in custody thanks to good timing. Medford police received a report of an armed robbery just before 4 p.m. Wednesday at Wells Fargo bank, 1128 S. Riverside Ave. A police officer happened to be nearby at the time, according to a Medford police Facebook post. The officer spotted the suspect in the parking lot, later identified as Michael Thomas Barton, 52, of the 600 block of Plum Street, Medford. Barton was arrested without incident, according to Medford police Lt. Mike Budreau. According to Budreau, the quick capture is the result of quick work by a number of people. "(Bank staff) were phoning us as he was walking away from the counter," Budreau said. Communication from dispatch to the officer was quick, allowing the officer to approach Barton "literally within seconds." Budreau said all money taken was recovered. Barton allegedly used an 8-inch kitchen knife in the robbery, then dropped the weapon in the parking lot as he fled the bank. Recovering the knife was a little more involved. A citizen with good intentions saw the knife on the ground and dropped it in a storm drain as a safety concern. "It was right as this was all going down," Budreau said. "We did recover it from that storm drain." Police later determined the citizen wasn't involved. Barton was arrested on two felony counts of first-degree robbery. He was lodged in the Jackson County Jail on $2 million bail. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Mar. 2, 2016 at 5:32 PM Updated Mar 2, 2016 at 6:17 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501