Truth Staff

ELKHART -- A suspect in a July robbery of a financial institution on Elkhart's south side is in custody.

Jesse Mullen, 26, of Fort Wayne was picked up earlier this week during a traffic stop in Allen County, Elkhart Lt. Ed Windbigler said. Allen County police saw a warrant for Mullen's arrest in connection with an armed robbery in Elkhart, Windbigler said, and he was brought to the Elkhart County jail on Tuesday.

Police believe Mullen is responsible for the July 7 robbery of the Credit Union Center, 3702 Mishawaka Road. That day, a man entered the building around 10 a.m., gave a teller a note demanding money and displayed a handgun under his shirt. The suspect left with an undisclosed amount of money.

The Credit Union Center, which serves as another location for customers of area credit unions to conduct transactions, was robbed again about two weeks later.

On July 23, a man wearing a wig of long blond hair walked into the building, displayed a handgun and demanded money. He left with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Mullen is not charged in connection to the later robbery, and police are still investigating whether the two are related.

Mullen is being held on a $75,000 bond. His initial hearing on the felony charge of armed robbery was Thursday. He faces up to 20 years in prison.