WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and SportsUPDATE 2: Exeland bank robbery suspect still at-large

UPDATE 2: Exeland bank robbery suspect still at-large

Sawyer County (WQOW) - The search continues for a bank robbery suspect, who police say is armed and dangerous.

Authorities say three suspects took off after holding up the Dairyland State Bank in Exeland Friday afternoon. The getaway car ended up in Rusk County after a chase. Authorities used their squad car to run the suspects off the road. They say the driver fired at law enforcement, and shots were exchanged. The driver of the getaway car was shot and killed.

At one point, the car stopped, and two of the suspects ran-off on foot. A Birchwood police officer caught one of them, but the other got away.

Robert McCallie is wanted by police. He's 21-years-old, 6'5" and weighs 200 pounds. Authorities say he is "armed and dangerous." They say he may be driving a green, Ford pickup with Wisconsin plates. The truck is listed as stolen from Rusk County.

We mentioned one of the suspects was taken into custody, in connection with the bank robbery. Steven Willard of Phillips was arrested.

If you have any information on the robbery or McCallie's whereabouts, you're asked to call police.

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Sawyer County (Press Release) - Wanted in connection with the bank robbery at Dairyland State Bank in Exeland.

Robert H. McCallie, Male/White, 21 years of age, 6'5", 200 pounds, brown eyes, brown hair. The NCIC entry lists McCallie as "ARMED AND DANGEROUS."

McCallie may be driving a Green over Green, 2001  Ford pickup with Wisconsin plate ET9636. This truck is listed as stolen from Rusk County.

Arrested in connection with the bank robbery at Dairyland State Bank in Exeland, WI.

Steven Ray Willard Jr., 19, of Phillips, Wis. A probable cause statement is expected to be heard Saturday afternoon.    

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Rusk County (WQOW) - Deputies shoot and kill a bank robbery suspect after a chase.

Authorities believe the suspects robbed the Dairyland State Bank in Exeland Friday afternoon and a chase ensued, according to the Rusk County Sheriff. "It's very serious when you have gun play," says Sheriff Kaminski.  "Its obvious that this person didn't want to be taken into custody, would do anything to get out and luckily no officers or members of the public were injured during this whole incident."

Shots were exchanged between the driver of the get-away car, and Rusk County deputies in pursuit.    The suspect was killed. "Its always a tragedy anytime an officer has to fire their weapon towards or at anybody," says Kaminski.

Before shots were fired, two of the suspects in the vehicle fled on foot, one is in custody, one is still on the loose. 

A description of the suspect at-large has not been released.

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(Rusk County Sheriff's Office Press Release) - On the afternoon of 10/30/09, a bank robbery was reported in Exeland in Sawyer County. 

It was reported to Rusk County authorities that a possible suspect vehicle was southbound, heading into Rusk County. Officers from the Rusk County Sheriff's Office, Wisconsin State Patrol, and Wisconsin DNR responded to the area and eventually located the suspect vehicle.   

When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, a pursuit took place.  During the pursuit, the driver of the suspect vehicle reportedly fired shots at the officers in pursuit. 

After a pursuit of about 10 miles, the vehicle ultimately stopped after being involved in a collision with 2 Rusk County Sheriff's Office patrol cars.  At the crash scene, shots were fired, and the suspect was killed. One Deputy sustained minor injuries.

The matter is being investigated by the Barron County Sheriff's Office, Wisconsin State Patrol, Rusk County Coroner, and Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation.  The investigation is also being coordinated with the Sawyer County Sheriff's Office and FBI to determine what connection there might be to the original bank robbery report.

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Sawyer County (Press Release) - At 2:29 PM on 30 October 2009, the Sawyer County Dispatch Center received a report of a holdup alarm at the Dairyland State Bank in Exeland. 

Deputies from the Sawyer County Sheriff's Department and Birchwood Police Department were dispatched to the scene.  Mutual aid was requested from the Rusk County Sheriff's Department, Washburn County Sheriff's Department, Barron County Sheriff's Department and  K-9 Units from the St. Croix County Sheriff's Department and Rice Lake Police Department. 

An Officer from the Birchwood Police Department spotted the suspect vehicle and began pursuing it. Two individuals fled from the vehicle in the Deer Lake area of Southern Sawyer County.

The Birchwood Police Officer chased the individuals on foot and took one of them into custody.  The other individual on foot fled into the woods. An extensive search of the area is currently being conducted by the Sawyer County Sheriff's Department and other supporting departments with the addition of the Wisconsin DNR and the Wisconsin State Patrol.

After the two individuals fled from the suspect vehicle, the vehicle continued traveling South into Rusk County where the vehicle was eventually immobilized by Rusk County Deputies. 

The suspect in custody was transported to the Sawyer County Jail and is being held there.  Investigation continues by the Sawyer County Sheriff's Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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Eau Claire (WQOW) - For the sixth time in three weeks, another western Wisconsin bank is robbed.  

Authorities say someone robbed the Dairyland State Bank in Exeland. The bank, located at 903 N. Grant Avenue, was robbed by two suspects around 2:22 p.m. Friday afternoon. 

We mentioned this is the sixth bank robbery in western Wisconsin. The Citizens Community Bank in Eau Claire was robbed by two men Thursday, which marked the second bank robbery in Eau Claire. There were also robberies in Ridgeland, Hudson and Elk Mound.

News 18 will have more information on the website and during the 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts.