LA PORTE CITY - Authorities have arrested a man in connection with a holdup at a La Porte City bank Tuesday.

Charles Floyd Ranson, 45, of 1115 Doreen Ave., Waterloo, was arrested in connection with the incident, La Porte City police said. He was being held without bond at the Black Hawk County Jail in Waterloo on complaints of driving while license suspended, second-degree robbery and second-degree theft. An initial court appearance is anticipated this morning.

Police and deputies were called to Cedar Valley Bank and Trust at 321 Main St. in La Porte City shortly before 12:30 p.m. after a man entered the bank with a note that demanded money.

A La Porte City resident provided a description of the suspect and his vehicle, La Porte City Police Sgt. Josh Evans said. A Black Hawk County sheriff's deputy heading to the robbery call spotted a suspicious vehicle driving away from the scene and radioed a description to other officers.

A Waterloo police officer stopped the vehicle on Ansborough Avenue between Shaulis and Orange roads, authorities said. Courier staff at the scene said the vehicle was a silver Chevrolet Malibu.

The motorist initially was detained on a driving charge, and investigators located money from the bank and clothing allegedly used in the holdup in the vehicle's trunk, a law enforcement source said. Property also was seized at a location outside of La Porte City, Evans said, noting all money taken during the robbery was recovered.

After being interviewed by the FBI and the Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office, the detained motorist, Ranson, confessed to the robbery, Evans said.

A weapon wasn't recovered, although the note given to the bank teller mentioned the robber was armed, according to a law enforcement source.

Officers with La Porte City, Waterloo and Cedar Falls police, the Sheriff's office, the Iowa State Patrol and the FBI are involved in the investigation.

It isn't known if the La Porte City robbery is connected with a string of other bank robberies that happened since late 2008, mainly in Cedar Falls. This is the first person to be arrested in connection with a recent bank robbery in the area.

Cedar Valley Bank and Trust president Dennis Coulter said no one was injured in the robbery.

Ranson has a history of crime - including robbery - dating back to the 1990s with his most recent release from prison being just under a year ago.

In 1993, he was sent to prison for crimes that ranged from pushing a woman down and stealing her purse to snatching a purse from a church pew to forging checks, according to Courier archives.

While serving his sentence, he fled from the Waterloo Residential Facility in June 1998.

Then in December 1999, Ranson robbed the Dell Oil gas station on West 18th Street, Kwik Star on Fletcher Avenue and Quality Inn & Suites on West Fifth Street within the span of a few weeks.

A store security camera got pictures of him, and he was arrested for first- and second-degree robbery.

He was sentenced to up to 20 years in prison and began serving his time in 2000. He left prison July 22, 2008, and was placed on work release where he stayed until Nov. 24, according to the Iowa Department of Corrections. He appears to still be on parole, according to the department.

Courier staff writer Tina Hinz contributed to this story.