Three bank robbery suspects are in custody following a police search that shut down I-270 in Maryland.
Rockville police officers were called to the Wells Fargo Bank at 404 King Farm Road just after 10 a.m.
Two men armed with handguns entered, demanded money and took cash, Montgomery County police said. The third suspect was in a silver Kia SUV in which all three suspects fled the bank.
From a Prince George's County police helicopter, officers spotted the SUV on southbound I-270. With help from Maryland State Police, the interstate was closed just north of the split, near Tuckerman Lane, as police searched vehicles with guns drawn.
"Stopping traffic on an interstate for a bank robbery, for our agency, is extraordinary and unusual," Montgomery County police Capt. Paul Starks said. "Today it was the right decision."
After locating the SUV and taking the suspects into custody, officers found a handgun in the vehicle, police said. They found money from the robbery in a dump truck. The suspects attempted to throw the money into the adjacent truck once they realized they'd been found, police said.
Police are searching the SUV for the second handgun.
Footage from Chopper4 showed the three suspects handcuffed along the interstate's barrier.
Police have reopened I-270 in both directions.
WOW "@Scott_Ferrebee: @nbcwashington @darcyspencer @WTOP police with guns drawn on I-270. pic.twitter.com/5aAzQF2YTY" #BREAKINGNEWS
— Darcy Spencer (@darcyspencer) March 11, 2014