A Park Rapids area man was arrested Wednesday night in connection with the robbery of an Akeley branch bank less than a week ago.
Edward Joseph Lowen, 53, was taken into custody Wednesday night about 8:30 p.m., Sheriff Frank Homer said. He was at his residence at the time.
The $2,525 taken, however, was not recovered, said Homer.
"There's still a lot of follow-up that need to be done," he said. "You want to tie up loose ends."
On Wednesday night, two hours before the arrest, Homer told the Enterprise "we're getting calls, about a dozen tips so far. Not all of them are panning out but we're following up on them."
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However, top officers within the Sheriff's Department were summoned by phone Wednesday evening to investigate those leads.
County Attorney Don Dearstyne said he is in the process of drafting the complaint. Lowen will be arraigned on unspecified charges Friday morning in Hubbard County District Court.
Lowen's Minnesota criminal history includes a misdemeanor conviction of driving after suspension in 2004. That charge was filed in Washington-Stillwater counties.
First National Bank of Walker's branch in Akeley was robbed at gunpoint of an undisclosed amount of cash Friday evening about a half hour before closing time.
The three females tellers on duty told police the sus-pect was a stranger to them.
'We're extremely happy we can put a rest to this, especially this quick," a relieved Homer said.
The case has been investigated by the FBI, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and Hubbard County.
"I can't say enough about our guys" and the women investigators at all three agencies, Homer said.
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"They've put in a lot of hours this week."
Homer did say it was a tip to local authorities that broke the case.
