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Retired Cop Helps Foil One of Two Warren Bank Heists

Posted on: Friday, 17 February 2006, 06:00 CST

By Christy Arboscello, Detroit Free Press

Feb. 17--Two bank robberies took place just an hour apart Thursday in Warren.

Two men were caught in the first crime with help from a retired Warren police officer who was outside at the drive-through, but the robber in the second holdup remained at large Thursday evening, police said. He led police on a car chase that resulted in a crash, which resulted in minor injuries to another driver.

At 11:49 a.m., a 20-year-old man from Fair Haven slipped a note to a teller at Charter One, 26681 Hoover. It stated, "Do not panic. Give me all your money," Sgt. Michael Torey said.

The thief, who tried concealing a knife under his jacket, ordered the teller to fill a bag with money. Growing impatient, he hurdled the counter to demand that other employees stuff cash from their bank drawers into the pouch.

He then inquired about the safe, but the manager told him it would take several minutes to open. The robber said he would wait, Torey said.

Meanwhile, a worker at the drive-through window was helping a customer, whom the teller recognized as a retired Warren police officer. Once alerted to the situation, Thomas Grillo, who served the Police Department for 25 years and retired in April 2004, notified authorities, Warren police said.

By the time the thief had the loot and sprinted out the door, a dye pack exploded in the bag. Grillo flagged down police who had arrived and steered them in the robber's direction.

The man ran a couple of hundred feet before hopping into a Saturn, where a 28-year-old driver from Eastpointe awaited him. The two men are expected to be arraigned today on charges of armed robbery.

About one hour later, another man who implied he had a weapon held up the Charter One at 12 Mile and Dequindre. Before he fled in a 1985 Chevy Impala and led police on a chase that reached up to 80 m.p.h., a dye pack erupted in the money bag. He sped down westbound I-696 to I-75 and exited in the 9 Mile area. Along the way, he hit a car, injuring the driver.

Police said they searched the vicinity for several hours with a tracking dog. They found the unoccupied car near 7 Mile and the I-75 service drive in Detroit but not the suspect. He was described as a black man in his late 20s or early 30s, about 5-feet-8 with a medium build.

Detectives expect bank surveillance tapes to provide a still image of him.

Although two bank robberies in the same day isn't the norm in Warren, "it has happened in the past," Torey said.

Anyone with information about the robberies can call 586-574-4810 anytime.

Contact CHRISTY OYAMA-ARBOSCELLO at 586-469-8085.

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Copyright (c) 2006, Detroit Free Press

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Source: Detroit Free Press

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