An Anchorage resident was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Cooper Landing on Friday on criminal charges stemming from recent robberies of a credit union and a bank.
According to a Monday press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Alaska, court documents allege 34-year-old Tyler Ching entered a Global Credit Union on Anchorage’s Industry Way on Sept. 19. He allegedly “pointed what appeared to be a handgun” at two customers and a bank teller, demanding money be put in a bag.
Ching left with “roughly $2,320,” the release said.
The next day, according to the release, Ching allegedly entered Wells Fargo Bank on Anchorage’s Jewel Lake Road. Similarly to the first described instance, he threatened a teller and a customer with something appearing to be a handgun and demanded money, the release said.
He left with “around $2,820,” according to the release.
Photos of a man wearing a beanie, a mask and sunglasses were distributed by the FBI the day of the first alleged armed robbery. According to the release, “multiple tips” were received the next day saying the man in the photos “resembled Ching.” The release said that further investigation led the FBI to identify Ching as their suspect, and he was arrested in Cooper Landing on Friday, two days later.
Ching is charged with two counts of bank robbery, the release said, which could each result in 20 years in prison.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
