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Federal authorities took custody this morning of the two men accused in the May 27 armed robbery of the National City Bank in Leesburg.
Criss Duncan, 43, of Shipshewana, and Ralph Berkey Jr., 34, Elkhart, were taken into custody late Saturday and were being preliminarily held in the Kosciusko County Jail on charges of armed robbery.
The two allegedly entered the bank wearing camouflage clothing and carrying military-style rifles and demanded money. They then fled the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine said this morning that, while federal authorities have assumed jurisdiction of the bank robbery case, local authorities will continue to pursue charges here in connection with the shooting incident.
Duncan and Berkey also are accused of exchanging gunfire with Milford town marshal Dave Hobbs when Hobbs approached the vehicle the men were in shortly after the robbery.
During a press conference Monday, bullet-proof vests reportedly belonging to the suspects were displayed to the media. Authorities also said a large number of weapons was confiscated during searches of both men's homes.
Rovenstine said a booby-trapped gun safe seized from Berkey's home during the investigation was opened Monday and several more weapons, including a grenade launcher, were found inside. Also, a vehicle belonging to Berkey was located in Elkhart and a search warrant allowed police to inventory its contents, which included camouflage clothing and other gear.
