Pasco standoff ends

LAND O' LAKES - Deputies have arrested a man they say held them at bay for several hours Tuesday afternoon after robbing a bank.

The suspect, 34-year-old Tito Morell, was taken into custody.

The standoff lasted approximately six hours, and created traffic nightmares by closing down U.S. Highway 41 near State Road 52.

Morell has a lengthy criminal history, including an arrest in May of 2009 for robbing two banks, possession of cocaine and violation of probation.

Today's standoff started when deputies say they started chasing Morell after he robbed the Wachovia Bank at 14048 U.S. 19 in Hudson.

They said a white male in a black ski mask entered the bank, brandished a gun, and fled with an undisclosed amount of money, travelling east on State Road 52 in a red Chevy Cavalier.