Man who allegedly robbed bank, used AATA bus as getaway vehicle incompetent to stand trial
The man accused of robbing an Ann Arbor bank last year and then attempting to use a Ann Arbor Transportation Authority bus as his getaway vehicle is still incompetent to stand trial.
Lorenzo Patterson
Courtesy of Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office
Lorenzo Patterson was charged with one count of bank robbery for the Dec. 7, 2011 incident at the TCF Bank, 125 Briarwood Circle. Patterson was ruled incompetent to stand trial and was back in court for a hearing on Wednesday.
Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge Archie Brown ruled, based off a Dec. 10 report from an examiner, Patterson still is incompetent to stand trial. He was referred to the Department of Community Health to continue treatment.
According to police, Patterson walked into the bank and demanded money from a teller without showing or implying a weapon. He received an unknown amount of money and got on an eastbound AATA bus.
He was arrested by police officers in Ypsilanti after a short foot chase.
Patterson previously has pleaded no contest to two counts of attempting to disarm a police officer of a firearm in Washtenaw County in 2004.
Patterson will be treated and will return to court for another hearing at 1:30 p.m. March 20.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Goodphotographer
Tue, Dec 25, 2012 : 3:42 a.m.
"Due process requires that a defendant be competent to stand trial, which includes capacity to assist counsel and to understand the nature of the proceeding sufficiently to participate in and make decisions about rights afforded to defendants." USLegal That would be a little hard to fake day in and day out. Happy Holidays, if you can.
Craig Lounsbury
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 6:29 p.m.
Reminds me of a cop show, or movie , I forget, where the robber gets on the east bound bus but 2 blocks later gets off, crosses the street and catches the west bound bus back past the scene of the crime and beyond. So all the cops are looking for a suspect last seen heading east only he's really heading west. Evidently Lorenzo either didn't see the same show or didn't like the plan.
Atrain
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 4:30 p.m.
I see it all to much that people are incompetent to stand trial or be accused properly of their crimes. Mental health is all to easy to abuse now. The reigns are to long when it comes to wether or not your choice that you made to do wrong was a competent and knowing choice. Unless you were under the instruction of another competent person and you already have a mental health issue; you were competent enough to want to commit the crime. Competent enough to know you had to leave after doing it b/c you knew it was wrong. You are competent enough to stand trial. System being abused and my tax dollars being wasted on his treatment and restraint. Quit wasting my *@#%$( money!
Cash
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 5:46 p.m.
Oh dear. What a tragic post. "My goal is to see that mental illness is treated like cancer." Jane Pauley
Radlib2
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 4:45 p.m.
What, are you an expert? No, you're not. It's sad that there are people--like you--that make insensitive comments. This guy is probably mentally ill. He needs treatment if that's the case. By the way, it's not YOUR money.
YpsiGirl4Ever
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 6:29 a.m.
WOW! What a picture!
YpsiGirl4Ever
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 8:52 p.m.
Because? Wow or WOW is a word in the English language. So your point is?
real_plastic
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 7:17 a.m.
your reasons for reacting "WOW!" are likely more appalling than anything about the photo itself.
Cash
Sat, Dec 22, 2012 : 11:45 p.m.
So now it's fun to ridicule mentally ill people? That explains a lot of what is going on in our society today.
Cash
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 3:05 p.m.
Action Jackson, Right back atcha! We have a short time on this planet together. Why be so darned cruel to each other? Happy Holidays, Action!!! AnnArbor.com needs to have a Posters Happy Hour!
actionjackson
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 2:29 p.m.
Cash, You are the type of person that makes sitting down to toss one back fun to be around. Good people with empathy and compassion for those that are less fortunate. Sure would be nice to find more like you out there.
Milton Shift
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 12:28 a.m.
Thank you Cash.
Cash
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 5:52 p.m.
I think a lot of us wondered if Adam Lanza was ridiculed like the man in this article was here last night...and he snapped. But that's not even the point. I think people try to find humor in things that they do not understand. But really to ridicule an ill person.....no. No. Mental illness is no funnier than cancer.
Cash
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 1:43 a.m.
If one assumes that a handful of unknowns click "like" then therefore, the poster speaks the truth, well.....so be it. Believe what you will.
treetowncartel
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 1:29 a.m.
Well put Cash, well put. Stay thirsty my friend!
Turd Ferguson
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 1:20 a.m.
Some of those comments speak the truth. They have some of the most "Thumbs Up"
WalkingJoe
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 12:49 a.m.
You're right Cash. I thought annarbor.com removed comments that are insulting and demeaning.
actionjackson
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 12:43 a.m.
Cash, I was sure hoping to hear this sentiment from someone out here in the heartless commenters. No clue and mean spirited remarks are an unfortunate majority of "have it all" readers.
Sam S Smith
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 12:06 a.m.
Thank you Cash!
janeqdoe
Sat, Dec 22, 2012 : 11:18 p.m.
If I used an AATA bus as a getaway vehicle, I'd be declared incompetent too.
nickcarraweigh
Sat, Dec 22, 2012 : 10:18 p.m.
Where has Mr. Patterson been lodged, while in treatment, for the past year-and-some?
stevek
Sat, Dec 22, 2012 : 9:41 p.m.
Nothing is anybody's fault anymore. Nobody is responsible for their own actions If you rob, kill, stab, get fired, can't find a job, their is always some sort of a disease or mental problem to blame it on. Nobody is just a bad person who was raised wrong or who can't behave in society today.
Angry Moderate
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 2:48 a.m.
That doesn't mean this particular guy isn't really incompetent.
EyeHeartA2
Sat, Dec 22, 2012 : 8:35 p.m.
"The man accused of robbing an Ann Arbor bank last year and then attempting to use a Ann Arbor Transportation Authority bus" Seems like a slam dunk for the insanity defense. I believe many of the cities surrounding Ann Arbor would agree that hooking up with the AATA is pure folly. For my part, I rarely use AATA, but I sure do pay for it on my tax bill. Crazy, huh?
Milton Shift
Sat, Dec 22, 2012 : 7:53 p.m.
You can't rob a bank. It's an oxymoron.
Piledriver
Sat, Dec 22, 2012 : 6:43 p.m.
"Patterson walked into the bank and demanded money from a teller without showing or implying a weapon. He received an unknown amount of money...." Didn't the banks use the same technique on us American taxpayers a few years ago when they robbed us of TARP money?
Goober
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 3:36 p.m.
Interesting that many commenters ignore facts.
snark12
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 5:11 a.m.
And the vast majority of the money has been paid back...at a profit.
Angry Moderate
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 12:23 a.m.
The government forced banks to take TARP money, even those that didn't need or want it.
genetracy
Sat, Dec 22, 2012 : 6:27 p.m.
I am sure he was coached well by his defense attorney on how to act insane.
Wondering
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 1:05 a.m.
Based on the report he is still deemed incompetent. Once he is found competent he will be able to stand trial. He did not plead insanity. Two completely different things.