A Schuylkill County man has been jailed and is facing charges after police say he attempted to withdraw stolen funds from a local bank and threw an officer to the ground while attempting to flee Thursday afternoon.
Yeilyn Encarnacion Bello, 25, of Shenandoah, was taken into custody following a foot pursuit that ended in the 500 block of E. Pine St. in Mahanoy City
According to court records filed by police in Mahanoy City, officers were dispatched to the M&T Bank shortly before 4 p.m. Thursday for a report of a male attempting to commit bank fraud.
Upon arrival, police were directed to the teller window where Bello was standing. When Bello saw the officer, he allegedly produced a cellphone, acted as though he was receiving a call, and attempted to walk out the main door.
Police say they told Bello he was not free to leave. Bello allegedly ignored the commands and continued trying to exit. When an officer grabbed Bello to stop him, notifying him he would be handcuffed, Bello reportedly continued to walk into the vestibule.
Bello allegedly pulled away and ran out the front door onto E. Centre St. During a brief physical struggle, Bello allegedly threw an officer to the ground before fleeing on foot toward E. Market St.
Officers from several surrounding municipalities assisted in the subsequent search. Police say they apprehended Bello a few minutes later without further incident.
One officer reported pain in his right shoulder as a result of the struggle and was treated for that injury.
Police say they interviewed bank staff regarding the initial fraud report. A bank employee reportedly told investigators that Bello entered the bank with an older Hispanic male and claimed he had sold a car on Facebook Marketplace for $18,000.
Bello reportedly presented a New York driver’s license and a bank card, claiming there was a hold on the funds.
The employee told police she contacted the bank’s fraud department and a branch in Great Neck, New York. She was advised that $19,000 deposited into the account had been stolen from another customer. A teller at the New York branch instructed the employee to contact the police.
Another bank employee corroborated the account of the struggle, telling police she witnessed Bello shove the officer to the ground outside the bank.
Bello has been charged with felony counts of aggravated assault, evading arrest, and attempted theft along with a misdemeanor count of simple assault.
He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Edward Tarantelli Thursday night. The judge set bail at $75,000 and Bello was remanded to Schuylkill County Prison.
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