This man can’t stop robbing banks. Police say 2 were in Tri-Cities

A habitual bank robber police say struck in the Tri-Cities was caught Monday trying to rob a Granger bank for the second time.

Police captured Moises Marquez, 28, in dramatic fashion after a multi-town chase that ended with several patrol cars damaged.

He now is in the Yakima County jail on $300,000 bail.

The Prosser man was out of custody on bail from an Aug. 8 robbery of the Granger branch of U.S. Bank, the same one he allegedly tried to rob Monday.

While out of custody on that case, investigators say Marquez robbed the Gesa Credit Union on Huntington Street in Kennewick on Nov. 18. Two days later, police say he robbed Yakima Federal Savings on Court Street in Pasco.

Kennewick police said investigators in Sunnyside and Yakima County told them about the possible connection.

In the Monday robbery, investigators say Marquez handed an empty envelope to the Granger teller.

He used a green marker to write, “Give me all your money now,” according to a Granger police affidavit.

The teller gave Marquez $3,781. He left in a gray Mazda sedan.

Yakima County sheriff’s deputies and the Washington State Patrol tracked the cash Marquez stole and started chasing him, according to court documents.

Police from several agencies kept up with Marquez across the Lower Valley through Grandview, Mabton and Sunnyside. Marquez hit a power pole and a deputy’s car during the chase, but he kept going.

After chasing him for about 20 minutes, deputies used a spike strip to pop Marquez’s tires. State troopers then bumped Marquez’s car off Allen Road in Sunnyside near Interstate 82.

Trooper David Munoz said in an affidavit that he and a sheriff’s deputy cornered Marquez.

Marquez rammed the deputy’s car and then Munoz’s car before either of them could get out. It wasn’t clear if Marquez was trying to get away or if he hurt the two lawmen.

Once Munoz got out, he drew his gun and told Marquez to get out with his hands up.

Marquez refused and kept his car doors locked, documents said. An officer on foot smashed the driver’s side front window.

Munoz said Marquez reached under the dash for something, then escaped out the passenger side.

Officers grabbed him, but he broke free and ran. Another trooper caught him and cuffed him.

Court documents show Granger police identified Marquez shortly after the August robbery.

Police said Marquez also used a note in that case.

Officers went to his mother’s home in Prosser, but she said he hadn’t lived there for months.

Marquez’s mother also told police that he was a drug user. He told her that he owed people money and they would kill him if he didn’t pay, documents said.

Marquez later was captured, but he made $20,000 bail Aug. 30 on a charge of first-degree robbery.

Marquez faces a new charge of first-degree robbery for the Monday crime. Kennewick police have referred the Gesa case to Benton County prosecutors for review.

This story was originally published December 6, 2017 at 6:55 PM with the headline "This man can’t stop robbing banks. Police say 2 were in Tri-Cities."