Police sergeant, a Story Hill resident, helps bust (alleged) bank robbers

Nov. 27 -- Milwaukee Police Sgt. Mark Stanmeyer, a Story Hill resident, helped nab some bank robbers after a woman flagged him down and told him she saw two men wearing masks go into the Mid-America Bank at S. 75th St. and W. Oklahoma Ave.

As Stanmeyer radioed in the robbery in progress, the two men left the bank, and Stanmeyer watched as they removed their masks.

"The individuals got into a car, backed out at a high rate of speed, and exited the bank parking lot heading eastbound on Oklahoma Ave.," according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court. "The sergeant activated his red lights and siren and pursued this vehicle at speeds reaching 75 mph. During the pursuit, the vehicle that the suspected robbers were driving veered into oncoming traffic, went through a red light, and also drove up on sidewalks and lawns of residences."

The car finally stopped after it hit a tree in the 2600 block of South 52nd Street.

The two men fled, but by then police were flooding the area and the suspects were soon arrested. Wesley Hoze, 20, and David Stribling, 20 each have been charged with bank robbery while armed. When arrested, Hoze was carrying $2,185 in cash.

Police found a nine millimeter handgun near the site of the crash and arrest.

"This woman that flagged me down is a guardian angel," Stanmeyer told WDJT-TV Channel 58. "I would have just walked into a bank robbery in progress, that I had no idea about."