Surveillance images courtesy of Grosse Pointe Farms Public Safety This bank surveillance photo shows a man wanted by the Farms Public Safety Department for reportedly robbing the Bank of America at 131 Kercheval, on the Hill. The suspect is said to have entered the branch around 1 p.m. Jan. 12.

By K. Michelle Moran
C & G Staff Writer

GROSSE POINTE FARMS — Bank of America employees started the week on a frightening note when an unidentified robber entered the Hill business on Monday demanding cash.

The robber reportedly entered the branch, at 131 Kercheval, around 1 p.m. Jan. 12, when there were no other customers inside. Described as a raspy-voiced black male in his 50s, around 6 feet 2 inches or 6 feet 3 inches tall, he was reportedly carrying a silver cane and wearing a long, black coat, a scarf pulled over his face and a hat pulled down low, according to Farms Public Safety officials.

Farms Public Safety Lt. Richard Rosati said the suspect demanded all $50s and $100s from the teller, and insisted that no dye pack be included. When the teller asked if he was kidding, the suspect reportedly cursed at her and threatened to shoot her through his coat, although no weapon was ever produced.

The suspect was able to get away with almost $10,000, Rosati said.

Although police arrived less than a minute after getting the alarm, the suspect had already fled the scene. Surveillance footage shows him getting into the back seat of a light-colored, four-door Dodge Intrepid at the rear of the 131 Kercheval building. At press time, police hadn’t been able to recover a license plate number from the alleged getaway vehicle, but they were still analyzing surveillance footage from surrounding buildings.

Grosse Pointe City Public Safety officers also responded to the scene to assist in the search. Officers initially thought the suspect may have fled on foot; they weren’t aware of the getaway car until after looking at surveillance footage.

No one was injured during the robbery.

“We’re fortunate in that (regard),” Rosati said.

The incident led to a roughly 30-minute lockdown at Richard Elementary, just down the street from the bank. Mike Havern, a fifth-grade teacher who was filling in as the teacher in charge because the principal was at a conference, said the school followed its standard lockdown procedure. That involves locking all classroom doors, turning off lights, maintaining silence and having students sit on the floor away from the door. Students who are in the hall or restroom when a lockdown is announced are taken into the nearest classroom, and teachers make sure all of the students are accounted for.

Building doors to the outside are already locked on a regular basis when students are in the school.

Havern said the lockdown went smoothly. The students have regular lockdown drills and weren’t aware that this wasn’t one of them. He said the teachers are kept informed through the intercom system and e-mail, but the students are given minimal information to maintain calm.

Parents will receive a letter about the lockdown, and the principal and administrators had already been notified at press time, he said.

Denise Embree, the principal’s secretary, said the police “were wonderful” and kept school officials informed throughout.

“The kids were great; the teachers were great,” Embree said. “Everything went well.”

This is believed to be the first actual lockdown at Richard, Havern said.

The FBI has been notified, but at press time, the matter is being investigated by Farms Public Safety. Anyone who may have seen the man or the getaway vehicle, or who may have more information about this incident, is asked to call the Farms detective bureau at (313) 885-2100.

You can reach Staff Writer K. Michelle Moran at kmoran@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1047.