SOUTHFIELD (WWJ) -- After some confusion over suspects, Southfield Police say they now have the correct person in custody in connection with an ax attack and robbery at a PNC Bank branch last week.
At a news conference Monday, Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren revealed that there were actually two hatchet attacks in the city the day, July 1, happening within a few minutes of each other and leading investigators to mistakenly believe they involved the same suspect.
First, officers responded to an apartment complex on 12 Mile on a report of a man armed with an ax who'd allegedly threatened a leasing office employee, then drove away.
When police arrested that suspect in Detroit, they thought he was the same person who'd robbed the PNC bank on Northwestern Hwy., hitting a bank employee with an ax and stealing money.
"Interesting, he admitted to committing the assault at the apartment, but denied any association with the bank robbery," Barren said.
The chief said both of the ax-wielding suspects wore similar clothing and drove away in similar vehicles.
However, Barren said police learned through further investigation that they were in fact dealing with two different suspects, and these two incidents were not related.
On July 2, 22-year-old Blake Herring (pictured) was arrested in Dearborn Heights in connection with the bank robbery.
Video footage released by police, along with audio from 911 calls from the bank, allegedly shows Herring at Meijer taking some practice swings with the ax, before buying it at the self-checkout.
Another clip from the bank's security camera shows a suspect dressed in black walking into the bank and attacking a woman with the ax. Police released additional images they say shows the bank robber was also armed with a handgun.
"The audacity to strike a victim... He didn't even give her a chance to comply immediately strikes the victim in the head, trying to get the other employees to be fearful and comply, to provide the money that was demanded," Barren said.
Barren said bank employee who was hit with the ax was hospitalized, but is now back home recovering.
Officials said Herring, identified by police as a transgender woman, has since been charged with two felonies: bank robbery and assault with intent to murder. Bond was set at $2 million cash/surety.
Herring's next court appearances is scheduled for July 17. She faces up to life in prison if convicted as charged on either, or both counts.