Suspect in bank robbery challenges police action that led to his arrest

AURORA, Colo. — It was a shocking sight. Aurora Police stopping more than two dozen vehicles in a busy intersection while they searched for a bank robber.

Police shut down the intersection of E. Iliff Ave. and S. Buckley Rd. on Saturday, June 2 shortly after the Wells Fargo bank at 15301 E. Hampden Ave. was robbed.

Police tracked a GPS signal from the money that was allegedly stolen from the bank.

People were pulled out of their vehicles at gunpoint. Some of them were even detained and placed in handcuffs.

Christian Paestch, a former Cherry Creek music teacher was arrested. Police say they found $25,000 cash and other evidence in his car.

But Paestch, 45, has filed a motion to have the evidence thrown out because of the unusual police action that day.

Lawyers say the suspected bank robber could have a good case.

“Under the law you cannot do that unless they (police) have reasonable articulable suspicion that that person committed a crime,” says criminal defense attorney Karen Steinhauser.

Aurora Police defend their actions that day as perfectly appropriate. A judge will soon decide.

But if that evidence is thrown out because of the way Paestch was arrested, the case against him could fall apart.