JONES COUNTY, Iowa – Four Iowans are in jail after an armed robbery Monday.
On Monday April 6, 2015, at 12:15 PM, the Jones County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the Exchange State Bank in Martelle, Iowa, located at 105 Marion St. The bank reported they were robbed at gunpoint by two suspects who entered the bank carrying long guns. The two suspects made off with an undisclosed amount of money. The two suspects were seen getting into a white Buick Lesabre, with no plates, and headed northbound on Hwy 1.
At 12:35 PM, the Jones County Sheriff’s Office received a citizen’s report of a white car abandoned on 230th Avenue, North of 35th St., that appeared to be smoking. Officers with the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa DOT Enforcement, and Jones County Sheriff’s Office responded and located the car. The car had been on fire and Lisbon Fire Department, who also responded, put out the fire. The vehicle was soon confirmed as the vehicle seen leaving the bank.
Based on information collected at the two scenes, two separate traffic stops led to four people being questioned and eventually arrested in connection with the Martelle bank robbery. They are as follows:
Andrew Palmer, 24, of Mechanicsville, IA: Robbery- 1st Degree
Shiloh Palmer, 22, of Mt Vernon, IA: Robbery- 1st Degree
Peter Olinger, 41, of Mechanicsville: Aiding & Abetting to Robbery 1st Degree
Elizabeth Olinger, 25, of Mechanicsville: Aiding & Abetting to Robbery 1st Degree
Peter and Elizabeth are husband and wife. Andrew and Shiloh are brothers. Peter Olinger is accused of driving Andrew and Shiloh Palmer to the Exchange Bank in Martelle, Iowa. Peter Olinger stayed in the vehicle while Andrew and Shiloh Palmer entered the bank, with long guns, and took an undisclosed amount of money. Elizabeth Olinger is accused of meeting the other three defendants on 230th Avenue, where they abandoned the white “get away” car and switched into another vehicle.
The investigation and collection of evidence will continue over the next several days. Assisting the Jones County Sheriff’s Office in the investigation and response are the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Cedar County Sheriff’s Office, Anamosa Police Department, Monticello Police Department, Mt Vernon Police Department, Lisbon Police Department, Lisbon Fire Department, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Department of Motor Vehicle Enforcement, the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) State Fire Marshal’s Division (SFM), and the F.B.I.
