Police: Mount Vernon Road bank robber tossed stolen money during chase

CEDAR RAPIDS - The man accused of robbing the Community Savings Bank on Tuesday donned a stocking mask and gloves as he jumped up on the counter and demanded money from two frightened tellers.

Christopher Feeney, 42, of Cedar Rapids, was formally charged in Linn County District Court on Wednesday with two counts of second-degree robbery and one count each of attempt to elude and second-degree theft. Feeney is accused of robbing the bank at 3414 Mount Vernon Rd. SE about 2:32 p.m. Tuesday.

A judge set a $50,000 cash bond for Feeney, who has previous convictions for theft, burglary and domestic abuse. He remained in the Linn County Jail on Wednesday.

According to a criminal complaint, Feeney demanded money from two tellers while standing on the counter. He left the bank with more than $1,000, driving over the 25 mph speed limit to elude officers in a police vehicle who gave him 'visual and audible” signals to stop.

Police spotted Feeney's car about five minutes later near Highways 13 and 30 where he led officers on a high-speed chase while tossing out stolen money from his car, according to the complaint. Feeney eventually was stopped and arrested.

Feeney later confessed to investigators that he committed the robbery to support his drug habit, according to the criminal complaint.

Greg Buelow, Cedar Rapids public safety spokesman, said about 50 police officers were doing firearms training at the department's shooting range across from the area where Feeney was taken into custody.