LIVONIA (WWJ) - A Detroit man accused of robbing a Livonia bank of $2,000 at gunpoint was apprehended by police with his young son in his getaway car, federal agents say.
The suspect, William Davis, 28, of Detroit, is due to appear in U.S. District Court on Thursday on charges of bank robbery and using a gun during a crime of violence in the August 29 incident at the Comerica Bank on 5 Mile Road and Merriman in Livonia.
According to an FBI agent's affidavit via the Detroit Free Press, authorities claim a man -- later identified as Davis -- was captured on surveillance video walking into the bank just before 10:30 a.m. dressed in a black hooded sweetheart, with white lettering that read "DETROIT" and the numbers “3525", a mask and sunglasses.
“This is a robbery, I am serious, give me all your money," he allegedly said.
The man was armed with a black handgun, authorities stated, and he pointed it at the teller when he came up to the counter.
Bank employees handed over $2,380 — including $150 in bait money — which the man placed in a distinctive pink-and-white striped Victoria's Secret bag.
The man brandished the weapon at the bank manager and other employees during the incident before peeling off in a Chevy Blazer with no license plate, authorities said.
Livonia police responded to the scene where employees gave officers a description of the suspect and the getaway car. At 10:53 a.m., police spotted an SUV matching the suspect car driving on Lyndon before it turned to Farmington and then entered the parking lot of Christ Our Savior Church.
As described in court documents, a man matching the suspect description was standing outside near the dumpsters as police approached him. When asked why he was in the area, the man said he had come from the Canton area and was taking his 4-year-old son, who was in the rear passenger seat, to the park.
The man's demeanor seemed off, officers stated, and police ended up arresting him.
Federal agents said Davis later admitted to committing the robbery while the young child was turned over to relatives.
As police investigated, they found a Victoria's Secret bag stuffed under the front passenger seat. It contained a loaded handgun, black sunglasses, a mask, a "Detroit" sweater and $2,348 in cash.
Court documents said authorities also found a note in the SUV that read: “This is a bank robbery. Be quiet just grab the money. No one will get hurt. Thanks."
Authorities weren't clear if the child was in the SUV at the time of the robbery -- they only stated the man's son was present at the time of his arrest.