Woman Tasered by police after bank robbery

WILMINGTON, Del. - May 17, 2011 (WPVI) -- An officer twice used a Taser on a woman who allegedly robbed a bank and then tried to flee from police.

The robbery happened at 10:47 a.m. Monday at Artisan's Bank and 9th and Tatnall streets in Wilmington.

Police say Melanie Lynn Pagan, 32, of the 100 block of South Jackson Street, walked in and handed a teller a note demanding cash. The note also allegedly implied she had a gun.

The teller gave the suspect cash and, police say, Pagan fled westbound on 9th Street.

As she was fleeing, however, a dye pack exploded.

Moments later an officer spotted Pagan in the 800 block of Washington Street, who matched the description of the suspect. The officer stopped her and, he said, Pagan told him she had a gun and began to run.

That officer fired his Taser and knocked Pagan down. She tried to get up, police say, and was shocked a second time. The officer then struggled with her and reportedly saw a gun in her waistband.

She was finally handcuffed and, police say, a .22 caliber handgun was recovered.

Pagan was charged with robbery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, carrying a concealed deadly weapon and resisting arrest.

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delaware, wilmington, bank robbery, taser, crime

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