Esli Nolosco
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Cullowhee man after he allegedly attempted a robbery at the Wells Fargo bank in Cashiers last month.
Esli Hernandez Nolosco was arrested on Friday for having a false bomb in a public building and attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon for his alleged actions during the robbery of the Wells Fargo on NC 107.
Nolosco is being held in the Jackson County Detention Center under an $80,000 secured bond.
Nolosco was arrested following a Dec. 29 search of a residence at the River Park mobile home park in Cullowhee. The operation was conducted with the assistance of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, North Carolina Probation and Parole, Jackson County Emergency Management, and a host of other agencies.
Jackson County Sheriff Doug Farmer thanked everyone who participated and assisted in the investigation as well as those who offered support during the search operation at the mobile home park.
On Dec. 13, Farmer told The Crossroads Chronicle that 911 dispatch received a call about the attempted robbery at 11:18 a.m. that day. A Jackson County Sheriff’s Department deputy arrived on scene approximately six minutes later.
There were no injuries reported and security footage from the bank showed the suspect, according to police reports a Spanish-speaking male, to be wearing a gray hoodie, a gray face mask, and a dark colored jacket. He was thought to have been unarmed, but images also showed multiple wires protruding from his clothing and that he may have been holding an improvised detonator of some kind.
The suspect was unsuccessful in his robbery attempt and was seen fleeing on foot into a nearby wooded area. At 1:20 p.m. on Dec. 13, authorities began an on-foot search for the man with the assistance of K-9 units.
“After a search of the area around the bank, we believe the suspect likely fled in a vehicle,” Farmer said. “We also believe the device he had on to be fake and that he has left the area. We do not believe there is any ongoing danger from him in the area, but there will be increased law enforcement presence there for a while.”
The Highlands Police Department also responded to the call and notified all Highlands businesses to be aware of the situation. Perimeter patrols throughout the business district and at local banks were initiated.
All schools in the area were notified as soon as the call was received and were instructed to implement proper safety protocols. Blue Ridge School and Summit Charter School both went into soft lockdowns and statements regarding the situation were released to the families.