"Bicycle bandit" wants trial moved after high-profile alleged escape

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - A man accused of being the "bicycle bandit" who fled a dozen Virginia bank robberies on two wheels wants his trial moved after his high-profile alleged escape.

WTOP-FM reports that lawyers for Wossen Assaye, who's charged with escape, kidnapping, and bank robbery, want his trial moved from Alexandria, Virginia to Charlottesville. They say the publicity generated by the manhunt for Assaye after his alleged escape from custody will keep him from getting a fair trial.

Assaye was arrested in March. Authorities say he tried to kill himself while in custody and was taken to a hospital.

While there, prosecutors say he overpowered and briefly kidnapped one of his guards. They say he fled the hospital and evaded authorities for nine hours until the search ended with his capture in Washington, D.C.

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