MARYLAND (AP) – Two men have been arrested in connection with a thwarted bank robbery plot that included the kidnapping of a Prince George’s County family.

Maryland state police say Yohannes Surafel of Washington DC held the family at gunpoint Saturday morning, while ordering them to drive to the bank where the mother worked. A state trooper arrested him during a traffic stop.

Surafel faces numerous charges, including assault, kidnapping and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

Another man, Yosef Tadele of Silver Spring, has been arrested and police expect to charge him.

Surafel and Yosef are accused of holding the bank manager and her family overnight at her Clinton home on Friday. Police are searching for the third suspect.

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, MARYLAND, POLICE
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND

(College Park, MD) – Working with the Prince George’s County Police Robbery Squad, Maryland State Police investigators have charged two men in connection with the kidnapping of a Prince George’s County family as part of a plot to rob a Silver Spring bank yesterday.

The first man is identified as Yohannes T. Surafel, 24, of the 400-block of Cedar Street, Washington, D.C. Surafel was the man holding the family at gunpoint in the car yesterday morning and arrested by the Maryland state trooper who stopped the car for swerving on I-495 near Rt. 1.

Surafel is charged with four counts of first degree assault, four counts of second degree assault, two counts of kidnapping, two counts of kidnapping a child under 16, four counts of false imprisonment, four counts of reckless endangerment, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, and use of a handgun in the commission of a felony. After his release from the hospital last night, Surafel was taken to the Prince George’s County central booking facility where he was charged and is being held.

The second man charged is identified as Yosef Tadele, 23, of the 4100-block of Colie Drive, Silver Spring, Md. Tadele was arrested at the State Police College Park Barracks shortly before 5:00 a.m. today, after meeting with police investigators. Tadele was taken to the Prince George’s County central booking facility where he is expected to be charged with four counts of conspiracy to commit first degree assault, four counts of conspiracy to commit second degree assault, two counts of kidnapping, two counts of kidnapping a child under the age of 16, and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

Both men are charged in connection with the overnight kidnapping of a bank manager and her family in Clinton, Md that began Friday evening. After Surafel’s arrest yesterday morning, investigators from the Maryland State Police and the Prince George’s County Police Robbery Squad have worked continuously to piece together the facts of the case while identifying and apprehending other suspects.

During the night, investigators determined Tadele drove Surafel and another suspect to the Clinton home of the bank manager and dropped them off prior to the kidnapping Friday night. Investigators also believe Tadele picked up the other suspect who was with Surafel in the victims’ house Saturday morning, after Surafel and the family left for the bank. Tadele came to meet with police at the College Park Barracks last night and, after further investigation, was arrested and charged as a co-conspirator.

Police investigators continue to work to identify and prepare charges for the third suspect. At least one additional arrest is expected in this ongoing investigation.

CONTACT: Mr. Gregory Shipley
Office of Media Communications & Marketing
Prince George’s County Police
410-653-4236 (Office) 410-653-4200 (through Headquarters Duty Officer)