Palm Bay police arrest bank robbery suspect dressed as woman

A 32-year-old man who Palm Bay police said robbed a bank while dressed in a wig and a lime-green outfit, was taken into custody after officers tracked him to a nearby home.

The robbery happened about noon Thursday at the Bank of America bank branch at 1151 Malabar Road. Police immediately responded and set up a perimeter in a nearby neighborhood in a bid to find the suspected robber. "He was dressed like a woman and wore a wig," said Lt. Mike Bandish of the Palm Bay Police Department. "He also was wearing a lime-green outfit, according to witnesses."

Police charged Lamar Coaston III, of Palm Bay, with robbery in connection with the case.

Police said Coaston, decked in the wig, a scarf and shades, walked into the store and demanded cash from a bank teller. He also implied he had a gun, Bandish said, adding Coaston left with an undetermined amount of cash.

Witnesses said Coaston - still wearing the multi-colored wig - left the bank, jumped on a black bicycle and rode away to a neighborhood located off of Malabar Road.

The department's SWAT team members blocked off roadways and surrounded the suspect's home within about 30 minutes of the bank robbery. Coaston, who Bandish said found time to change into all-black clothing, then walked out of the rear sliding glass doors and surrendered to officers.

"He is now in custody," Bandish said.

Coaston is expected to be booked into the Brevard County Jail Complex in Sharpes. He will go before a judge for a first appearance Friday.

Contact Gallop at 321-242-3642, jdgallop@floridatoday.com and Twitter at @JDGallop