There is a manhunt in progress, with one suspect in custody around Route 63 and Townline Road.
Two other suspects are reportedly still at large, possibily armed, and on foot.
We don't know at this time what triggered the manhunt.
A helicopter has been called in to help with the search.
Batavia Police and Sheriff's Office units are on scene at multiple locations along Route 63.
UPDATE: There is a reported "money trail" south of the subject's vehicle.
UPDATE: 10:30 a.m.: Sheriff Gary Maha has confirmed the suspects are wanted in confirmed the suspects are wanted in connection with a bank robbery in Elba.
And, a woman just drive up to the command center, ran up to the sheriff and said she saw a subject running in a field north of Townline Road just minutes ago. The subject is east of 63, running north.
UPDATE: Helicopter on scene now.
UPDATE 10:50 a.m.: Second suspect in custody. Two more at large.
UPDATE: 10:52: One of the suspects in custody has reported there were only three subjects in the getaway car.
UPDATE 11:02 a.m.: Dan Fischer at WBTA is reporting that all schools in Genesee County have been placed on lock down.
UPDATE 12:22 p.m.: K-9, officers on foot and a helicopter has been searching a area to the northeast of the John Deere location. Now officers are discussing a report of foot prints in a field south of Townline Road. Air 1 has just been moved to that field, where a border batrol K-9 unit found the tracks.
UPDATE: 1:01 p.m.: Maj. Cummings of the NYSP just told the assembled media that the cordoned area is 5 miles. Sheriff Maha said, "We have two suspects in custody. We have this person identified. He might as well give up." Cummings encouraged people in the area to make sure their cars and houses are locked and don't let anybody in.
UPDATE 1:10 p.m.: Sheriff Maha just requested that all schools be unlocked. "We have two suspects in custody and a good idea where the third suspect is, so we don't see any reason to have any schools locked."
UPDATE: Took a while to get this video processed ... it's not quite done. My battery is almost dead, so I'm inserting the code for it now ... should appear shortly ... and shutting down laptop unless there is a significant development.
UPDATE: 2:30 a.m.: The at-large suspect has been identified as Michael J. Wells, 24, of Buffalo. He is 6' and 200 lbs. No other details about his background were releases. If my battery lasts long enough, I'll post a photo shortly.
UPDATE 2:42: The third suspect is in custody.
UPDATE 5:25 p.m.: Below is cellphone video submitted by Paul G. Barrett of Batavia depicting the apprehension of the final of three bank robbery suspects after a five-hour manhunt.
Howard, I know you will keep
Howard, I know you will keep us posted. This right in mine & my family's backyard. Scary
I got info that there was a
I got info that there was a robbery at M&T in Elba
also that the school is on
also that the school is on lockdown
Oh Wow, great coverage
Oh Wow, great coverage Howard!!
Lock down of Batavia middle
Lock down of Batavia middle school is on now.Maybe its because of this my son Daniel called.
It is correct the M&T bank in
It is correct the M&T bank in Elba was robbed and the suspects were scene taking off in a black trailblazer with very dark tinted windows and no plates on the vehicle headed down batavia elba townline rd. They then dumped the vehicle and are on foot. Believe they have one in custody at this time.
I hear ya Laura! There's
I hear ya Laura! There's LOTS of hiding spots behind my house, being on a dead end street and having all the ponds back there.
That's news at it finest.And
That's news at it finest.And first that's why the Batavian is important.
Great story Howard. Keep us
Great story Howard. Keep us posted. Now this is great news coverage.
I'd like to know where these
I'd like to know where these bank robbers are from, what town/city.
You will know by tomorrow's
You will know by tomorrow's police blotter :)
Good reporting job
Good reporting job Howard...Great pictures..
I just got an automated
I just got an automated message from the Batavia City School District - schools are on lockdown.
I just received a phone call
I just received a phone call from the county office. Is that a new feature to alert people of situations?
I wonder what will happen with regents that are supposed to happen this afternoon? Can they still give it? What about the kids that arent in the school yet?
When on lockdown, no one can
When on lockdown, no one can go in or out. I was suppose to go to my grandson's preK graduation this afternoon. so it's a sit and wait.
There are procedures about
There are procedures about emergencies when it comes to Regents (something happened in my high school during finals one year and they had a plan in place)
Very good questions Nancy.
Very good questions Nancy. Luckily my daughter doesn't have any tests today.
Nancy, When I was taking
Nancy,
When I was taking exams about 9 years ago, there were make up days.
I called the high school
I called the high school directly and they said they are letting the students in for testing but not letting anyone out until they get the "all clear" from the state police.
I live behind Middle School,
I live behind Middle School, and just saw some kids in the parking lot. I heard sirens at the same time. maybe a fire alarm or something.
Update: Batavia Middle, the kids were turned away at the door because of the lockdown.
Karen....Batavia or Oakfield?
Karen....Batavia or Oakfield?
I wish someone armed came
I wish someone armed came into my house. They would either have to add murder to the list of charges or start filling out a death certificate.
Channel 4 just led the
Channel 4 just led the newscast at noon with the story and credited Howard and The Batavian with breaking the story and pictures online. GREAT JOB!
Way to go Howard!!!
Way to go Howard!!!
Awesome Howard!! You are a
Awesome Howard!! You are a great reporter. Good for you. I've been staying tuned to the scanner, and Air 1 searching for the last guy. Glad to see the dogs on this too!! Told the girls at JK about your up to the minute reports.
My husband just drove down
My husband just drove down 262....Fisher Road is closed at that intersection. Seemed like quite a bit activity down there...police qnd helicopter
Road block at corner of 98
Road block at corner of 98 and Elba Townline Road. Just stopped and searched his car. The policemen just said 1 at large. Police posted all along 98 right up to thruway.
Howard, if u stumble upon any
Howard, if u stumble upon any of that "money trail" pick some up for me !
Moved Heli to south side of
Moved Heli to south side of townline rd. where k-9 unit has found tracks!! Grey house with pine trees around it. First house on the right of Townline Rd.
what happens to schools if
what happens to schools if one suspect is still on loose at dismissal time? Especially here in Oakfield?
I dont know nancy. I hope
I dont know nancy. I hope they catch him. I would think they have inferred camera on Air 1. Come on guys, GET-Um.
Nancy, I talked to Pat Baubie
Nancy, I talked to Pat Baubie today because graduation practice is today. They are letting the Sr.'s in for that, but as for exams, I don't know. At dismissal time, if the lockdown is not lifted, the kids stay there.
That first house on the right
That first house on the right on Townline Rd belongs to the Gelders.
At door of 3600 Townline Rd.
At door of 3600 Townline Rd. Knowone answering.
I hope this fugitive wasn't
I hope this fugitive wasn't taught about woodsmanship from BUCKY! Those kids will never get out of school.
I think exams started as
I think exams started as planned.
I believe OACS is letting
I believe OACS is letting kids in for exams, but possibly not letting them leave. I know one student should have been home by 10:30, and she's still there. The big kids can handle it. I worry more about the elementary kids. A.M. pre-k is still there and should have been out by 11 I think. P.M. pre-k is cancelled.
They are letting them in just
They are letting them in just not out my cousin just went down there for an exam
I thought during lockdown NO
I thought during lockdown NO ONE was supposed to be allowed into schools, except emergency personnel. Doesnt letting kids in, even for exams and rehearsal, go against the whole lock down procedure?
Jimmy Cherry was supposed to
Jimmy Cherry was supposed to get an award today at Robert Morris.They canceled the awards till Tuesday at 1. Daniel Said he had lunch.I must go get him and physically appear, so i'll go pick him up on my bike.Why did they have to rob a bank today?Especially Elba bank?
Each school district has
Each school district has their own lockdown policies.
good job--------one to go
good job--------one to go ---------god bless!!
Just talked to my friend
Just talked to my friend Bill, who said Air 1 is right behind his house, searching. He didnt know anything about it. I told him to lock his doors!!
Just said to call Boces and
Just said to call Boces and tell them the lockdown isnt needed at this point. The dispatch said to call Batavia Schools and let them know.
I received a phone call from
I received a phone call from Elba Central stating the Sherriffs office ordered their lockdown . I got that call at 10:20 this morning. They are letting kids in to take their exams just cant leave after.And noone in the building has been allowed to leave .
I didn't hear anything about
I didn't hear anything about Byron-Bergen being in lock down? Some reports say all Genesee County schools are in lock down. Great reporting Howard !
I just got a call from one of
I just got a call from one of the robbers, he said he just robbed the bank cause he wanted everyone to stop commenting on the City Worker painting the dang light post.
WOW ! That was Live News
WOW ! That was Live News Coverage I dont think anyone could do so quickly and utilize the internet . With something as important as the safety of peoples children made this coverage so valuable. Thanks Howard.
The plan was to rob the bank
The plan was to rob the bank in Elba then hightail it over to Oakfield and get lost in the crowd. I hope I don't know any of those fools.
Finally at 1:25 got an
Finally at 1:25 got an automated phone message from O/A School notifying parent that they are in lockdown until further notice. Don't know about that 1:10 post Howard.
What child was ever
What child was ever threatened?
They robbed a bank and ran away, there was no report of any assault and they were only possibly armed.
Just got phone call that OACS
Just got phone call that OACS lockdown is over. Kids will be released now and elemnetary kids will be released at normal dismissal time.
O/A school is now out of the
O/A school is now out of the lockdown, just received that message.
Lockdown is lifted at Elba
Lockdown is lifted at Elba School.
Glad Oakfield is right on top
Glad Oakfield is right on top of their notification system! Got the lockdown call and not less than 5 minutes later, got the call that the lockdown was lifted.
My mom lives on lewiston past
My mom lives on lewiston past the galloway road. quite a few police and cars stopped right across from her house on lewiston
Great job Howard on the
Great job Howard on the pictures and all the coverage. The Batavian was on top of this story from start to finish! We just got an automated phone message from the Batavia school district that the lock down has been lifted. I just hope no one was hurt by all this chaos. Thank-you.
Sorry I'm lost, did they
Sorry I'm lost, did they found the last guy or is he still out there???
Don't burst their bubble
Don't burst their bubble Peter. They're bonding as part of the 3rd leg of the stool or some such thing. The only way it could be better is if everyone were sitting in a coffee shop (locally owned and operated of course) at different tables, all staring at their laptops, typing to one another in the very same room.
Received a call from Batavia
Received a call from Batavia Schools, lockdown, for them, is clear at 1:31pm. Although the suspect has not been apprehended? I guess they figure the guy isn't headed for Batavia.
Great Coverage Howard! Man I
Great Coverage Howard! Man I wonder where that last guy is hiding. What a world..
I assume the lockdown is a
I assume the lockdown is a precaution to prevent any children from being in harms way should a suspect decide to run into a school for refuge. Makes sense to me. I don't disagree with caution in these types of incidents.
This effected my plans for the day. I have a scheduled art show tonight, but needed to be able to 1st enter the school (which I couldn't) and 2nd transfer panels of displayed artwork from one building to another.
Although the lockdown has now been lifted my principal decided to cancel our evening events as he didn't know when the all clear would be called and we were running into an issue with an ever shrinking preparation time frame and manpower.
I received five messages from my schools administration. They did an excellent job keeping parents and teachers informed. And it's great to have the up to the minute reporting from The Batavian.
Don't forget that if you are
Don't forget that if you are at a coffee shop and you don't use a mac you are shunned Andrew.
Thank you Lori! Couldnt have
Thank you Lori! Couldnt have said it better. If you dont have children, you dont see the importance. Im going to get mine now. Im just glad nowone got hurt.
(I'm Dan cherry Jr) When
(I'm Dan cherry Jr) When we had the lock down i was just about to go home and eat lunch but we had a lock down instead they fed us lunch. but they couldn't find the Key so they broke in the refrigerator. and At about 1:20 the lock down was lifted.
Lorie- I can't say anything
Lorie-
I can't say anything specific for any given district as I simply don't know, but at various schools in Rochester (and I would assume it applies in general) lockdowns are used in this type of situation to keep everyone in the school safe. The first intent is to keep anyone else from entering the building if possible, and the second is that everyone is already at the safest points in the building they can be at if someone the police are looking for were to get in to the building despite the lockdown. Lockdowns are definitely used in more situations than just a worst case scenario of an active shooter, a Greece school had a fight between a student and security personnel a few days ago and they locked the school down as standard procedure.
Your emotional reaction was
Your emotional reaction was unfounded Karen. Locking down the schools is fine I was commenting specifically to this quote "With something as important as the safety of peoples children made this coverage so valuable."
Are Howard, Andrew, and I the last voices of reason on this site?
"a Greece school had a fight
"a Greece school had a fight between a student and security personnel a few days ago and they locked the school down as standard procedure."
Just like a prison....
I'm just glad everyone
I'm just glad everyone stopped commenting on the guy painting the light post.
I am getting info from my
I am getting info from my moms house on lewiston road. Road is closed on Lewiston....they got him up near Galloway.
I love how scared people got
I love how scared people got during this. They made it seem like the people are going to like go into the school and stuff. Theyre not that dumb, theyre going to stay low key and out of sight.
I JUST WANTED HOWARD TO KNOW
I JUST WANTED HOWARD TO KNOW THAT THIS WAS THE BEST COVERAGE I HAVE EVER SEEN. HOW EXCITING TO FEEL LIKE THE PUBLIC WAS A PART OF EVERY MOMENT. GREAT JOB TO THE BATAVIAN. "I LOVE THIS WEB SITE"
Great coverage Howard! You
Great coverage Howard! You were right on top of this one.
Barbara Jean!! How the Hell
Barbara Jean!! How the Hell are ya?
Congrats to all Law Enforcement, and Howard Owens for a job well done. Ill bet it was great to put all those tactic to work today, with a successful outcome.
These guys robbed more than
These guys robbed more than just the bank, they robbed us of the Deal of the Day!
Hey - you're right Jeff. I'm
Hey - you're right Jeff. I'm going to win one of those sooner or later. I'm never quite quick enough.
Jeff, funny. Maybe I'll
Jeff, funny. Maybe I'll still do one. You never know.
If I can stay awake.
And I still have a chamber function to drop by, a Muckdogs event and the consolidation meeting (if anybody sees me falling asleep during it, no fair posting a picture).
Thanks for the compliments from all.
I owe a big thanks to my wife. Even though she had other things to do today, she came out to the scene with a back-up battery for my laptop and then went and bought me two of Jerry Arena's hot dogs (after doing the morning update of the site and taking care of a few other things, I was on my way to Pok-A-Dot for breakfast when this started, so I'd had nothing to eat at that point).
HI KAREN, I HAVE BEEN ONLINE
HI KAREN,
I HAVE BEEN ONLINE FOR WEEKS READING ALL THE COMMENTS,
BUT I NEVER WROTE ANYTHING. TODAY WAS GREAT!!! I LOVE ALL THE STUFF YOU HAVE SAID "GLADYS" . YOUR GREAT. LET'S GET TOGETHER SOMETIME.
I HAVE TO GET BACK TO WORK.
BARB J
I was sitting in my english
I was sitting in my english regents when they announced that we were going into lockdown. (i go to oakfield school). We were not to leave the school, they announced that all the windows were to be closed, and when our test was finished they actually did start the next one. all of us juniors that were in the test had to saty and we were escorted to the gym and then to the cafeteria. we were finally released at 1:10. our parents were not even allowed to come pick us up. I had called my mom at around noon and at that point none of the parents had been notified yet, we went into lockdown at 10:14! i think the parents should have been notified sooner considering quite a few parents were waiting to be pick their kids.
Sheriff Maha was very
Sheriff Maha was very diplomatic in saying it was the schools' decision to lock down. It was not decided by law enforcement, but by poorly informed school officials, lapse in communication, or school officials with poor judgment. There was no imminent danger to any students in any area other than Oakfield. Locking down every school in the county causes panic and rumors, especially among elementary students. I'm sure the Sheriff and State Police Major would suggest a lock down if it was truly warranted.
I deleted a comment I made
I deleted a comment I made and a response to it because I was probably being unfair to the Daily.
Way to go Howard!!! i been
Way to go Howard!!! i been saying all along this is the place to get your local news.get more news here then any place.
Thanks to all for the nice
Thanks to all for the nice comments about the coverage -- and for not making fun of the massive number of typos and mangled phrases ... I've decided not to correct any of that since it just goes along with working quickly to get as much information out as fast as possible.
Howard... I watched this
Howard... I watched this story until I had to go to work! Great coverage and KUDOS!! I work at the library in Bergen and a man came in talking about this story. We commented about how great of a job you were doing.
Howard, your coverage was raw
Howard, your coverage was raw journalism at it's best. I appreciated the 'on the spot' work that you did. Kudos to Billie for being there.
While the main topic is, of course, the robbery and capture of those responsible. There is a second story, and it is the readers. TheBatavian gave us an opportunity to share their views on a story that was unfolding.
I was at my daughter's when I heard a siren. I came to her computer to find out what was going on. I KNEW that whatever it was, you were on top of it.
My daughter has surgery on Wednesday and confined to bed. I read every post to her. My neice, in Buffalo, thought I was kidding about the robbery and lock down when I mentioned it in FB. My Florida son immediately wrote back, "no, no, it's all true, I read it on TheBatavian".
This is a great example of a 'third place'. Now, if you only served coffee in the morning....