Citizen helps Ann Arbor police locate suspected bank robber
Ann Arbor police officers credit an alert citizen with helping them track down a man they say robbed a TCF Bank branch Monday on the city's south side.
As a result of the woman’s help, police say they caught up with the man’s pickup truck, ultimately stopping it with spike strips on the border of Scio and Lima townships.
The 32-year-old man was arrested and remains in custody as Washtenaw County prosecutors review the case for possible criminal charges.
No one was injured during the robbery or ensuing police chase, Det. Sgt. Pat Hughes said. In addition, Hughes said, the majority of the money stolen from the bank at 125 Briarwood Circle was recovered.
Investigators say the man passed a note at the bank and made off with an undisclosed amount of money at about 5 p.m. He rode away on a bicycle into the Briarwood Mall parking lot, where a woman spotted him, Hughes said.Â
The woman, who was not aware of the robbery, was suspicious of the man because he was clutching his stomach as he rode past her, Hughes said.
The man rode the bicycle up to a pickup truck in the lot and dropped some money, Hughes said. He then loaded the bicycle onto the truck and got inside.
The woman planned to get the license plate number, but the truck didn't have a license plate, Hughes said.
She dialed 911 and followed the truck until Ann Arbor police officers caught up with the vehicle on Jackson Road near I-94, Hughes said.
The man led police on a chase that ended on Parker Road near I-94 on the border of Scio and Lima townships, Washtenaw County sheriff's deputies said. Deputies put spike strips on the road.
The man ditched the truck and ran, but was quickly apprehended, Hughes said. Hughes did not have specifics on how long the chase lasted, but said the man was apprehended 30 to 40 minutes after the robbery.
Hughes credited officers with bringing the incident to a safe resolution and thanked the woman for dialing 911.
“She saw that this was a situation that looked suspicious and decided to follow up and make the call,” Hughes said.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
frank lucas
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 11:45 p.m.
i cant believe that he could of been just putting his bike in his car.She had no reason stalking him like that he could of been inncoent and got pulled over for now reason i had people like that they need 2 just mind there own business and let the police do there job.
frank lucas
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 11:45 p.m.
i cant believe that he could of been just putting his bike in his car.She had no reason stalking him like that he could of been inncoent and got pulled over for now reason i had people like that they need 2 just mind there own business and let the police do there job.
cinnabar7071
Wed, Mar 10, 2010 : 9:54 a.m.
TMazur and lets not forget the taxpayers, cause without them we wounldn't have the police or dispatchers. Oh and the people that built the road that this chase happened on. Oh and the banks, for without them this could have never happened. I'm sure I'm leaving many out, so if you can think of more people that may have had a hand in this please post up.
RoboLogic
Wed, Mar 10, 2010 : 8:41 a.m.
Great call by the witness, and excellent coordination by all those involved. This perp was probably so darn busy looking behind him for cop cars, he did not notice the witness, or if he did, he couldn't lose her. I can't wait to see the look on this palookas face in his mugshot.
sheepdog1
Wed, Mar 10, 2010 : 7:09 a.m.
Once again the Peoples Republic of Ann Arbor...Yes, we are very thankful for the citizen calling 911 and getting the information out to the police... What about the police and sheriff? Everytime, Everytime they do their job they are under the magnifiying glass. Now they do it right and do an outstanding job at that and nothing (12 posts thanking the citizen). When it's bad your all over them. When its good you should be shouting their praises from the roof tops. This should be on Channels 2,4,7, Detroit News, and the local rags and mlive.... Bank Robbery,High speed pursuit,No Crashes,No Injuries,No Police Assaults,Bad Guy in cuffs and back to prison again....AWESOME JOB...Remember they get paid not for what they do but, what they may have to... None of these bloggers seem to want to get in line to do the job but they sure always seem to be the worst critics...
TMazur
Tue, Mar 9, 2010 : 7:30 p.m.
Um, Rod J, the officers who made the arrest were also just doing their job. The point being, if Sgt Hughes is handing out praise, then everyone involved should get their due, even those dispatchers doing their paid, routine jobs. The earlier comment was not meant to take away from the real story here--if not for the "above and beyond" involvement of this woman, the robber would not have been caught--period. And she deserves every kudos sent her way.
Rod Johnson
Tue, Mar 9, 2010 : 6:23 p.m.
Um, you mean the dispatcher should get thanks for basically doing the job that he or she gets paid to do? Not that I'm not grateful, but that seems pretty routine.
Ricebrnr
Tue, Mar 9, 2010 : 6:06 p.m.
Wasn't this branch robbed just last fall too? Another great example of how the Police can't be everywhere all the time and we are responsible for being aware and doing our part. Lucky for this lady the suspect didn't notice her though.
TMazur
Tue, Mar 9, 2010 : 5:54 p.m.
Can we get a little recognition for the dispatcher(s) involved in this? While Det. Sgt Hughes gives much deserved credit to the caller and later to the officers for the apprehension, he neglects to mention the job well done by 911 for not only keeping the caller on the line and obtaining all this information, but also relaying it to the responding officers in a timely manner so the arrest could be made.
breadman
Tue, Mar 9, 2010 : 5:50 p.m.
She was brave! Just lucky he did not have a gun and shoot at her following him down the road. Great and brave job!!!
jcj
Tue, Mar 9, 2010 : 4:54 p.m.
I agree with all of the previous comments. Great show of concern. Thank You. Unfortunately if this had been an employee of some establishment that followed the suspect they would have fired her.
Rich Kinsey
Tue, Mar 9, 2010 : 4:42 p.m.
Great Job by the witness who reported the suspicious activity to the police! That is BEING AWARE of what is going on around you. That's what I'm talking about! I hope she gets a citizen appreciation award from the AAPD!!!
cinnabar7071
Tue, Mar 9, 2010 : 4:17 p.m.
Citizen involvment is the only way to reduce crime. Thanks to go to the woman for her bravery.
stevek
Tue, Mar 9, 2010 : 3:54 p.m.
I agree!! Thank you. Nowadays people are too involved to do the right thing. I commend you.
Shitari123
Tue, Mar 9, 2010 : 3:47 p.m.
@Hunterjim and Sherry........You are absolutley, 100% correct. I wish there were more citizens like this person. We NEED more of them! Good Job!!!
Sherry
Tue, Mar 9, 2010 : 3:42 p.m.
I agree with Hunterjim. If we had more like you maybe our crime rate would go down. Thank you again for your bravery in not being afraid to get involved.
Hunterjim
Tue, Mar 9, 2010 : 3:29 p.m.
Thank you to the citizen who choose to get involved! Without people like you, our society/community would not be as safe. Thank you again