The State College Police Department arrested a man early Saturday morning after he allegedly attempted to rob a State College bank while wearing women's clothing.

According to police, Shaun N. Yawkey, 23, who was living at 424 E. Waupelani Drive, entered the AmeriServ Financial Institution, 734 S. Atherton St., at about 6:51 p.m.

Yawkey approached a teller and attempted to communicate with written notes and hand gestures, but never spoke, Cpl. Mark Argiro said.

During this time, an employee, suspicious because Yawkey was obviously a man disguised as a woman, activated a silent alarm, Argiro said.

According to the criminal complaint, Yawkey asked about the bank's closing time and certificate of deposits, and was told he would have to sit in an office and produce identification.

"When we arrived at the scene he left," Argiro said.

"One of our guys followed him to a rear bay of the Alpha Ambulance building" at 805 S. Atherton St.

There, police found and detained Yawkey as he was changing out of the women's garb.

Yawkey had been wearing a black dress, a blue sweater, a yellow glove and a blue glove, a brown wig, sunglasses, and a scarf around part of his head and face.

He was also carrying a blue and black backpack and a brown purse.

Yawkey told police he was cross-dressing to see if he could get away with it in public.

"Apparently, he had this ready for an excuse," Argiro said.

Argiro said police later determined Yawkey was carrying 20 feet of rope in the purse along with a 13-inch knife and a plastic bag in the backpack.

Argiro said he suspected Yawkey was planning to tie up bank employees with the rope.

Police let Yawkey go, but confiscated the clothing, the purse and the backpack.

Argiro said police contacted Centre County District Attorney Ray Gricar and obtained a search warrant for the items.

Police took Yawkey into custody after finding the knife, rope and plastic bag and learning he has a criminal history of robbery.

According to police, Yawkey is out on bail for allegedly robbing a bank in Everett on Jan. 8 while wearing a similar disguise.

Law enforcement officials also learned Yawkey had previously been arrested in 1998 and pleaded guilty to robbery.

On Thursday, police learned a person matching the description of Yawkey wearing identical women's clothing entered an AmeriServ in Greensburg asking questions about certificates of deposit and bank location.

Police were called, but the person left the bank on foot before they arrived.

Yawkey was arraigned Saturday before District Justice Bradley Lunsford on two counts of attempted robbery and one count of possessing instruments of crime.

Yawkey remains in Centre County Prison on $250,000 bail while awaiting a preliminary hearing 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in Centre County Courthouse, Bellefonte.