The Boston Police Department reports arresting Christopher A. Higgins on charges he robbed a bank on Centre Street in West Roxbury Wednesday morning with the unwitting help of a friend who drove him across town.

Police said Higgins had thefriend drive him across town yesterday morning to "cash a check" at the Hyde Park Savings bank branch at 1921 Centre St. In a statement, police said, "According to the operator, his friend returned from the bank to the car in a rush and instructed him to drive away quickly because 'there's a guy a guy in there [the bank] that I had a fight with.' "

Police said the friend drove Higgins to the Shaw's on River Street in Dorchester Lower Mills - then got himself stopped by an alert officer at Norfolk and Babson streets in Mattapan, where he was read his rights, after which he supplied a Savin Hill address for Higgins.

Police say two officers drove to the address in an unmarked car and set up a stakeout.

"After waiting there for a few minutes, officers observed a taxi cab pull up to the address with an individual matching the suspect description in the back seat. Officers observed the passenger sitting up initially and then bending over reaching toward the floor area and lower parts of the door. Shortly after the car pulled up to the address, the suspect got out of the cab and was observed to be holding the blue hooded sweatshirt that he had been wearing during the robbery. Officers immediately approached the suspect once he got out of the cab and identified their office and asked to speak to him. The suspect immediately took off running but was caught after a short foot pursuit and placed in handcuffs."

Police add that the friend was released without charges.