Suspect in bank robberies across the Carolinas dies after police chase ends in crash, deputies say

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — A man suspected of robbing several banks across the Carolinas died Friday night after a police chase along Interstate 95, according to Nash County deputies.

According to reports, 60-year-old Thomas Ketelsen was traveling down Interstate 95 when the Robeson County Drug Interdiction Team got a match on his license plate.

They shared the information with the Nash County Sheriff’s Office, who set up an ambush for him.

The Nash County Sheriff’s Office said that once they turned on their blue lights, Ketelsen sped off. He then approached a congested area, causing deputies to use a force stop maneuver.

Ketelsen lost control of his vehicle, struck a tree and was partially ejected from the car. He died at the scene, according to reports.

This is the statement released by the sheriffs office involving the chase. Police in Conover confirmed he was also a suspect in the bank robbery there earlier this week at Truist Bank. pic.twitter.com/bTV8vtp7L3
— Dave Faherty (@FahertyWSOC9) March 12, 2022

[Police: Suspect arrested in Rock Hill following bank robbery in northwest Charlotte]

Conover police said Ketelsen was wanted in a string of robberies, including a robbery on Wednesday in Conover.

Conover police said Ketelsen walked into the Truist Bank branch on First Avenue South around 2 p.m. Wednesday, gave a teller a note demanding money and left with some money.

The police department released a photo of Ketelsen.

He was wearing a black and red jacket, black ball cap with a camouflage bill, a white shirt, blue jeans and gray tennis shoes.

Police said Ketelsen would typically walk into the bank and hand the teller a note demanding money.

[WANT TO WATCH ON OUR STREAMING APPS? CLICK HERE]

Nash County- a man suspected of robbing several banks across the Carolinas including one in Conover has died after a police chase along interstate 95. That crash happened near Rocky Mount. Police say the robberies included ones in Salisbury, Camden and Summerville SC pic.twitter.com/CumO6QjO1A
— Dave Faherty (@FahertyWSOC9) March 12, 2022

Police said Ketelsen was also involved in robberies in Salisbury on Thursday, Camden on Friday morning and Summerville Friday afternoon.

Channel 9′s Glenn Counts learned that Ketelsen has been committing crimes since he was 17 years old.

A neighbor who didn’t want to be identified said they were surprised by what happened.

“You wouldn’t think that because of the way he dresses. The kind of cars he has. Like he just looked like a regular person,” the neighbor said.

They said his behavior had grown more erratic in the last year.

“There would be days that he’s really nice. And then there were days like he’d look at you and just give you the most hateful look. But he was never really rude to us,” the neighbor said.

This is a developing story. Check back on wsoctv.com for updates.

(Watch the video below: Trio in custody following ‘takeover-style’ bank robbery in South End, sources say)