Man who allegedly used bus as bank robbery getaway vehicle held on $250,000 bond
An unmarked police car sits outside the TCF Bank branch Monday on Briarwood Circle in Ann Arbor. Police say Lorenzo Patterson allegedly robbed the bank and was apprehended in Ypsilanti after fleeing on an AATA bus.
Angela Cesere | AnnArbor.com
Lorenzo Patterson, 30, of Ypsilanti, is being held at the Washtenaw County Jail after being arraigned on one count of bank robbery. He is being held on a $250,000 cash bond, according to jail records.
Ann Arbor police said Monday Patterson walked into the TCF Bank at 125 Briarwood Circle and demanded money from the teller at the window. Police said there was no weapon ever seen or implied during the incident and no note was given to the teller.
According to police, the teller gave Patterson an undisclosed amount of money and he left the bank on foot before getting on an eastbound Ann Arbor Transportation Authority bus. Police allege Patterson was returning to his Ypsilanti home.
It is Ann Arbor police policy to not release the amount of money taken during bank robberies. Police said all of the money taken from the bank was recovered.
Patterson allegedly took the bus into Ypsilanti where he was confronted by officers from the Ypsilanti Police Department, according to Det. Sgt. Troy Fulton.
He then ran from police for a short time before ultimately surrendering on Hawkins Street between Hill and Franklin streets, Fulton said.
Mary Stasiak, a spokeswoman for the AATA, said Monday it’s not unusual for police to notify the service that they are looking for suspects or possible runaways in the area.
She was not sure exactly how Monday’s incident played out, whether the driver of the bus headed into Ypsilanti recognized the suspect and alerted police or if police knew which bus he was on, but she said bus drivers are given training on how to communicate with police.
Patterson is scheduled to have a preliminary exam at 1 p.m. Dec. 14 at the 14A-1 District Court, 4133 Washtenaw Ave. A request for his mugshot has been submitted to Washtenaw County authorities.
Comments
sheeple
Wed, Dec 7, 2011 : 7:55 p.m.
The caper was playing out perfectly until the bus driver surprised him with, "Exact change only, sir." The suspect glanced down at his bag of C-notes and his heart sank...
BenWoodruff
Wed, Dec 7, 2011 : 3:38 a.m.
Steal 20 grand, go to jail. Steal 20 billion, get bailed out by the taxpayer!
MyOpinion
Wed, Dec 7, 2011 : 3 a.m.
New mottos for AATA - or ads for buses: We stick to our schedule You can bank on it We're never late You can bank on it Thinking of robbing a bank? Load our schedule APP on your smart phone Use a bus as a getaway
breadman
Wed, Dec 7, 2011 : 1:06 a.m.
They took his bond money away so now he has to sit in jail!!! Maybe ten percent????
Bob
Tue, Dec 6, 2011 : 11:49 p.m.
Only in the smartest city in the universe, well America at least, does a bank robber use public transportation as an escape vehicle . . . How many degrees does this guy have?
Billy Bob Schwartz
Wed, Dec 7, 2011 : 1:27 a.m.
B.S. and M.S. from MSU, if I'm not mistaken. ;-)
Elaine F. Owsley
Tue, Dec 6, 2011 : 10:30 p.m.
Isn't it more like he allegedly robbed the bank, because he actually rode the bus and was captured as he exited it with the money on his person.
justcurious
Tue, Dec 6, 2011 : 11:06 p.m.
Yes.
Joe_Citizen
Tue, Dec 6, 2011 : 10:06 p.m.
This story just gives me the giggles, and now even more that he didn't even threaten the teller or anything. He just went in and demanded cash. What, are banks required to just give people money if they demand it. I mean what's the charges read, he technically did not actually rob them if they just handed him money because he told them too. I'm wondering how this will play out in court. He had no weapon, no threat was made, and he showed no threat to police but to run a block to catch him. This does not sound like a typical robbery to me. If they handed him money without being threatened, then how can they charge him with bank robbery? This is less threatening than an aggressive pan-handler, or the like. They are all over downtown and the reason I don't go there anymore. They should be charged with aggressive robbery too, if this is the outcome of it.
Joe_Citizen
Wed, Dec 7, 2011 : 5:24 p.m.
k I will give you half of that, but what does the law read on this kind of thing. What about aggressive pan-handlers?
mun
Tue, Dec 6, 2011 : 10:27 p.m.
I believe bank employees are trained to assume that the robber has a weapon. The last thing they want to do is anger the robber so that he/she starts killing people.
Billy Bob Schwartz
Tue, Dec 6, 2011 : 9:57 p.m.
I love the unmarked police car. Who would ever guess? Let's see: Minimal hubcaps (when did you see those since 1962?); spotlights; crash bumper; really ugly paint job. Who would ever guess? Umm...maybe a bus riding bank robber might not?
BobbyTarsus
Tue, Dec 6, 2011 : 9:07 p.m.
times are tough. Next thing you know, they'll be using mini bikes as a getaway vehicle.
SMAIVE
Tue, Dec 6, 2011 : 9:07 p.m.
Must have had an AATA Fare Deal Card.