Serial bank robbery suspect arrested in less than 24 hours from latest crime, HPD says

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A man wanted for allegedly robbing several banks across the Houston area was found, arrested, and charged Friday after a brief chase in southwest Houston that ended in a crash and then a pursuit on foot.

It all happened in less than 24 hours.

The bank robbery happened at about 1 p.m. Thursday in the 7800 block of Long Point. ABC13 went to that scene shortly after the incident, where Houston police said a Black man in a white shirt ran away before officers got there.

No injuries were reported in this robbery.

Then, at about 3:28 p.m. Thursday, West University Place police officers arrived at a bank in the 5500 block of Kirby in response to a separate robbery call. Police said the suspect entered the bank, displayed a weapon, and left with an undisclosed amount of money.

The suspect was later identified as Winston Latson through collaborative efforts with the Houston Police Department and the FBI.

Then on Friday at about 10 a.m., the suspect's vehicle, a Toyota Highlander, was picked up by the HPD's Flock cameras off I-610 near Bissonnet.

The cameras take pictures that show the make, model, color, and license plate of all of the vehicles that pass by. If the vehicle has been reported to be involved in a crime, HPD will immediately get an alert and be able to track the vehicle.

Officers said they tried to perform a traffic stop, but Latson kept going, lost control while trying to make a U-turn, and crashed under the US-59 bridge at Buffalo Speedway. Police said Latson threw a gun out the window during the chase.

The suspect then got out of the Highlander and ran toward some nearby apartments, where he was taken into custody, an officer who chased him down told ABC13 at the scene.

After much investigation, authorities found that Latson had an outstanding parole violation warrant. He was sentenced to 16 years back in 2010 for two counts of aggravated robberies but was released on parole in May of this year.

Latson has been charged with felony evading with a motor vehicle, and additional charges will follow for the bank robberies. As for his criminal history, it dates back to 2000 and includes the following charges:

• 2 Aggravated robbery

• Assault

• Assault public servant

• Burglary of habitation

• 2 evading arrest

• 2 fail to identify

• Terroristic threat

• 2 Theft

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