'Cowboy Bandit' Bagged During CUStakeout

AUSTIN, Texas - (04/16/04) -- A serial robber who is believedresponsible for the hold-up Travis County CU and at least sevenother area banks, was captured last week when he returned to thesame credit union in apparent preparation for another heist. Thesuspect, known by police as 'The Cowboy Bandit' because he wears acowboy hat, was identified as Ernest Rodriguez, Jr. Rodriguez wasarrested in an undercover sting operation in which undercoverpolice staked out several area banks believing he would return.Rodriguez drove to Austin from San Antonio with plans on robbingthe credit union, again, police said. He became suspicious when heentered the building and tried to flee, but was captured without astruggle. An alleged accomplice, identified as Joe Tamayo, was alsoarrested last week and charged with several of therobberies.