Suspect arrested in Deerwood Bank robbery

A confidential informant's tip led to the arrest last week of the man suspected of robbing the Deerwood Bank in Garrison a year ago, the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Department announced Monday morning.

On Wednesday, a confidential informant contacted the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Department about information he had on the Garrison bank robbery on Sept. 27, 2007, in which a man armed with a gun robbed the teller of almost $3,000.

The informant told the sheriff's department that James Richard Ardito, 39, Coon Rapids, had told him he robbed the bank wearing a jacket and hat with glasses so he would not be identified. Ardito told the informant that he spent the $3,000 on methamphetamine.

Ardito was arrested Thursday on an unrelated felony Department of Corrections warrant in Coon Rapids. He was returned to Crow Wing County. On Friday a criminal complaint was signed by a judge accusing Ardito with felony first-degree aggravated robbery.

He appeared in court on the charge Monday morning. Ardito is being held on $500,000 bail without conditions and $250,000 bail with conditions. His next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 27.

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MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.