NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. (WOWO): A bank robbery that lead to a police chase ended in an apparent suicide.

North Manchester police tipped off the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department of a suspected bank robbers vehicle just after 6 p.m. on Friday night.  The Indiana State Police in Peru say that the male suspect first entered into the First Financial Bank of North Manchester at 106 North market Street just before 6 p.m. armed with a handgun.  He demanded money and fled after allegedly robbing a teller.  He then left the bank, rode a short distance on a bicycle to his waiting Ford pickup truck and took off.  Witnesses followed the suspect and alerted police by calling 911.  North Manchester police were able to catch up to the vehicle, but were unable to stop the truck as it fled to a neighboring county. 

The chase led into Kosciusko County on State Road 13, and the suspect stopped near the intersection of State Road 14.  However he refused to leave the vehicle after given verbal commands by the officers.  Moments later, police say a firearm was discharged from inside the pickup truck.  Officers approached the vehicle and witnessed the suspect suffering from a gunshot wound.  They called emergency personnel, but he was pronounced dead on the scene. 

Due to the on-going investigation, the name of the officer and the deceased suspect are not being released at this time.