Mark Wetsch Admits to 'Man in Black' Robberies, Including in Richfield

A plea agreement would put Wetsch behind bars for 14 years. He admitted to robbing First National Bank of the Lakes and trying to rob Richfield Bloomington Credit Union twice—among 28 other robberies in Minnesota.

The man authorities say was the 'Man in Black' pled guilty Monday to five Minnesota bank robberies in 2011 and admitted to 25 others—including one in Richfield and two attempts in Bloomington. Mark Wetsch had previously pled guilty to one 2012 bank robbery in Brewster, MN that led to his arrest. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for Minnesota, Wetsch admitted "he wore a black mask and brandished a firearm believed to be real. Wetsch stole $9,350 from the First National Bank in Hastings on December 27, 2011; $3,634 from the Wells Federal Bank in St. Peter on December 22, 2011; $3,801 from the Premier Bank in Albertville on November 9, 2011; $9,445 from the Merchants Bank in Hampton on May 13, 2011; and $3,050 from …

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The Biz Buzz

Richfield Businessman Accepted to Local Leadership Program

André Thibault, assistant vice president of marketing, has been accepted into the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Twin Cities program.

Editor's Note: The following is a Richfield Bloomington Credit Union press release. RBCU, a credit union serving Richfield, Bloomington and Edina, has announced that André Thibault, assistant vice president of marketing, has been accepted into the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Twin Cities program. The program is a nine-month series designed to inform future leaders about critical issues facing local communities and inspire them to make a difference through personal commitment and involvement. Each year the program selects approximately 50 people from the public, private and non-profit sectors who share a commitment to improving their communities. This year’s program will focus on metropolitan issues, economic development, …

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What's Your Pick For Best Bank In Richfield?

The nominations are in! Now it's time for you to cast your vote!

The Biz Buzz

Steve Lindgren Talks Redevelopment, Retirement

The chamber president’s last day is Aug. 1.

Outgoing Richfield Chamber of Commerce President Steve Lindgren is unique in his industry. Not only was Lindgren born and raised in Richfield, but he’s also spent nearly 20 years at the helm of its chamber—something that he says is uncommon among other chamber executives who usually work their way up to larger organizations. However, now Lindgren is counting the days until his Aug. 1 retirement, which was formally announced last week. “It’s time for a new person,” Lindgren told Patch. “Twenty years is a long time to run a chamber. … [But], there was never a dull moment.” In the chamber’s 57-year history, Lindgren is just the sixth president. “I say the next person is lucky No. 7,” Lindgren joked. While it’s time to hand the reigns over, …

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Richfield Organizations Present a ‘Night With Jerry Kill’

The head coach of the Minnesota Gophers football team will kick off a leadership series at Richfield High School April 25.

The Richfield community is invited to join Coach Jerry Kill as he kicks off a leadership series at 6:30 p.m. April 25 at Richfield High School. Kill, the head coach of the Minnesota Gophers football team since 2010, will speak on his principles of success and how those principles have led him to where he is today. The series is being presented by the Richfield Spartan Foundation and the Richfield Chamber of Commerce, and is sponsored by Richfield Bloomington Credit Union. Students will be admitted free of charge with their student ID, while adults and the general public are asked to make a $20 donation at the door to the Richfield Spartan Foundation.

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FBI: Bank Robber Arrested, Could Be Richfield Connection

The FBI announced the arrest of Mark Edward Wetsch of Minneapolis in connection with a bank robbery in Brewster, MN yesterday. Investigators are evaluating if he is the "Man in Black."

The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Minneapolis Field Office is investigating a man arrested in St. Peter, MN, in connection with a bank robbery in Brewster, MN, yesterday, and are evaluating whether he is the highly sought "Man in Black." Mark Edward Wetsch, 49, Minneapolis, was arrested and detained by St. Peter Police after he was traveling in a vehicle which was suspected of being used in the robbery of the Rolling Hills Bank in Brewster around noon yesterday. The FBI expects Wetsch to be charged in connection with the Brewster robbery in court today. The so-called "Man in Black" is wanted in connection to multiple robberies throughout the Twin Cities area, including the Nov. 4 armed robbery of Richfield's First National Bank of the …

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Brekken Re-Elected as Chairman of Minnesota Credit Union Foundation

Richfield Bloomington Credit Union's Pat Brekken will serve a second term as chairman of the foundation.

Editor's Note: The following was taken from a MNCUF press release. Richfield Bloomington Credit Union President Pat Brekken was recently re-elected as chairman of the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation (MNCUF). MNCUF is a nonprofit organization that serves to aid credit unions across the state by providing funds for scholarships, charitable donations, disaster relief and community development. “The Minnesota Credit Union Foundation continues to capitalize on the progress we’ve made over the last few years,” Brekken said. “With our newly-refined focus on financial education, we look forward to the opportunity to engage more and more credit unions in the Foundation’s efforts and to be able to impact the broader community with our initiatives.”

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Bank Robber Matching Richfield Thief's Description Strikes Again

A man who some metro detectives believe might be connected to a string of robberies has struck again, this time in the northeast suburb of Arden Hills.

A thief that fits the description of the man who robbed Richfield's First National Bank of the Lakes Nov. 4 and the Bloomington branch of Richfield Bloomington Credit Union Nov. 9, and several other metro banks, has struck again. At approximately 12:50 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, a TCF Bank branch located at 1160 W. County Road E., Arden Hills, MN, was robbed by a lone, white male. The robber entered the bank and approached the teller counter. Once at the teller counter, the robber demanded and received cash while brandishing a handgun. The robber pointed the handgun at bank personnel and at a customer while inside the bank. After obtaining an undisclosed amount of cash, the robber fled from the bank in a cream colored, Mitsubishi Galant. The …

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Richfield Bank Robberies Could Be Linked to Others

A detective says the two Richfield bank robberies could have been done by the same suspect who knocked off Prior Lake and Shakopee banks.

UPDATED: Attempted Bank Robbery at Richfield Bloomington Credit Union

A man attempted to rob the Bloomington Richfield Bloomington Credit Union location Wednesday morning.

Last update at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. (Surveillance photos added) An unknown suspect entered the Bloomington location of Richfield Bloomington Credit Union around 9:35 a.m. Wednesday morning and demanded money from tellers after displaying a handgun, according to an FBI press release. After a bank employee told the robber there was no cash available, he fled the bank. The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 35 years old and 5-foot-8 to  5-foot-10 in height. He was reportedly wearing a dark ski mask over his face, dark gloves, a black hooded sweatshirt, and dark jeans. No word on whether or not this robbery is related to the First National Bank of the Lakes robbery on Nov. 4. Descriptions of the suspects are extremely similiar…

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