PINELLAS PARK – Detectives have arrested a suspect in connection with the bank robbery that occurred on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at the Wells Fargo Bank located at 7100 U.S. Highway 19 North
At approximately 10:15 a.m., a male suspect entered the bank, passed a note to a teller implying he was armed, and demanded money. The suspect fled with hundreds of dollars in cash before officers arrived. The teller reported that the suspect stated he had a gun, although no firearm was displayed.
The suspect was described as an older white male wearing a neon green long-sleeve shirt, black shorts, black-and-white shoes, thick black-framed glasses, and a red watchband. Surveillance footage showed the suspect wearing a black ski mask positioned on top of his head, with gray hair visible underneath.
Shortly after the robbery, police detained an individual near the scene who was initially thought to be the suspect. However, investigators later determined that this person was not connected to the robbery. That individual fled from an officer and was apprehended after a Taser deployment. He was later identified as being wanted in an unrelated child abuse case.
Through further investigation, detectives identified the robbery suspect as Marc Eliot Grace, age 56, of Pinellas Park. Detectives learned that Grace had been staying at the La Quinta Inn by Wyndham, located at 7500 U.S. Highway 19 North. A hotel clerk identified Grace from surveillance images as a current guest since October 12. Grace had checked in using an expired Florida driver’s license.
Hotel surveillance video showed Grace leaving the property around 10:10 a.m.—about 12 minutes before the robbery occurred—and returning shortly afterward carrying the same black rectangular bag used in the robbery.
Investigators also discovered that Grace had previously served a 20-year prison sentence in Montana for a robbery conviction in 1999.
Based on this evidence, a warrant was issued on October 19, 2025, by Judge Joseph Lawhorne for Robbery with a Firearm under Florida Statute 812.13(2)(a). The warrant set bond at $250,000.
On the morning of October 20, 2025, officers located and arrested Grace without incident. He was booked into the Pinellas County Jail on the robbery charge.