Temple IHOP Customers Robbed at Gunpoint

A Temple man is behind bars after police say he robbed a convenience store, then robbed patrons of a local IHOP at gunpoint early Tuesday morning.

According to a statement from Temple Police Department Public Information Officer Shawana Neely, 30-year-old Dervish Dumar Banks entered the Valero convenience store at 2502 West FM 93 in Temple shortly before 12:51 AM, displayed a handgun, and demanded money, then fled on foot.

A K-9 unit was called to track Banks, but with no success.

At 2:20 AM, police responded to a robbery call at the IHOP at 3913 Bell Drive in Temple. Witnesses said a black male had entered the restaurant with a gun and demanded money from several patrons. After receiving cash and wallets, he fled.

A Bell County Deputy saw Banks running across I35 from the direction of the IHOP and notified Temple Police, who apprehended Banks a short time later.

Police took Banks back to the IHOP, where Neely said he was positively identified as the robbery suspect.

Banks was booked into the Bell County Jail at 7:23 AM. According to jail records, he was charged with evading arrest and an unlisted third degree felony. No bond had been set for Banks at the time of publication.