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Suspected 'Bicycle Bandit' In Custody Following Shootout

DENVER (CBS4) - The man who is suspected as the Bicycle Bandit is now in custody.

Shawn William Scott, 39, was arrested shortly after noon Monday during a shootout near 3rd Avenue and Osage Street in Denver. He was wanted for five different bank robberies in the metro area.

Scott was known as the Bicycle Bandit because he'd make his alleged bank robbery getaways in on bike.

4th and Osage Denver Officer-Involved Shooting
(credit: CBS)

"Our department received information in regard to a person who had an outstanding warrant at about 12:07 p.m. today. Our officers tried to make contact with that individual and shots were fired," Tyrone Campbell with the Denver Police Department said.

A tow truck was in the area when the people inside spotted the man they recognized as Scott and police were contacted. The owner of Starlight Towing company, Bill Sherman, says a man started pointing a firearm at his driver and opened fire, striking the truck.

"The guy started waving a gun at the tow truck and the police were already behind somebody else, and from my understanding there were some shots fired," Sherman told CBS4's Rick Sallinger.

shawn scott
Shawn William Scott (credit: Denver Police)

It was not immediately disclosed why the officer opened fire. Police indicated they were seeking a suspected bank robber at the time -- a man wanted in a series of Denver area holdups.

"An officer's weapon was discharged … at present we understand that it was one officer that was involved," Campbell said.

The man with the gun was not struck by a bullet. Police say he was taken away in an ambulance due to a medical condition.

The tow truck was in the area patrolling for unauthorized cars in private lots, according to Sherman,

"In our business, because we do a lot of private parkers, it's not uncommon to be angry … that's the nature of the business sometimes," Sherman said.

Investigators searched for evidence in an investigation that is expected to take some time.

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