Bank employees help Carbondale police make arrest, save kidnapped woman

Tellers at PNC Bank on Carbondale's Main Street were integral in the arrest of a man and the liberation of a kidnapped woman.Carbondale Police arrested Wilson Medina Garcia, 37 of Carbondale, on May 25 on numerous charges relating to kidnapping, assault and terroristic threats.Escorted by Medina Garcia, a woman entered PNC Bank in Carbondale and asked the teller for a $5,000 "H E L P loan," court papers state.Carbondale Police were dispatched in response to several hold up alarms originating from the bank and no ability to reach bank staff. When officers arrived, a teller met them outside and explained the woman had asked for help.Police entered and took Medina Garcia into custody. As they were doing so, the woman yelled out "Arrest me! Arrest me!" because she was afraid what he would do if he knew she had contacted them, states the affidavit.She later explained police Medina Garcia had held her captive since the day before. Court papers state he kept her locked in a room.Police allege Medina Garcia made several threats to the woman while he was inside the bank and as he was arrested. The affidavit also states the woman accused Medina Garcia of physical abuse the night before and earlier that day. She also told police he had threatened the lives of her and her children.According to the police report, Medina Garcia had first taken the woman to the Title and Tag Store in the Westside Shopping Mall to get money. She had written "help" in green marker on her wrist, but the employee didn't understand what she wanted, the report states.Jason Beyersdorfer, PNC Bank Media Relations, relayed via email the financial institution is "thankful everyone is safe." He did not wish to comment further at this time due to ongoing police investigation.

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Carbondale police make arrest with help of PNC Bank employees