Springfield bank robbery suspect wrote demand note on his birth certificate, feds say
Federal investigators say a Springfield man robbed a bank last week after writing a demand note in pink highlighter on the back of his birth certificate and handing it to the teller.
On July 20, at about 11:30 a.m., court documents say a 29-year-old man wearing a cut-off grey t-shirt, blue gym shorts and one orange shoe, entered the Bank of America on West Kearney Street and handed a teller a note reading "Give me your money now. Don't say anything. I have a partner outside."
The teller emptied the cash drawer and handed the man the money and the note, at which time the man left and fled the scene in a black pickup truck, according to court documents.
The man was arrested later that day, thanks to a tip.
The man allegedly confessed to the crime and told investigators he robbed the bank to "prove a point" to his girlfriend after they had gotten into an argument.
He told investigators that he didn't know which bank he was going to rob, but drove by the Bank of America and decided it would be that one.
According to court documents, the man told law enforcement he wrote the note on the back of his birth certificate in pink highlighter and after fleeing the scene he threw both his birth certificate and ID out the car window.
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He also told investigators that after leaving the scene he saw Springfield police cars with their lights and sirens activated heading toward the bank, so he got scared and started throwing the money out his car window as well, according to court documents.
The man is charged with one count of bank robbery, a federal crime that is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Court documents say in total the bank lost $754 due to the robbery.
Jordan Meier covers public safety for the Springfield News-Leader. Contact her at jmeier@news-leader.com, or on Twitter @Jordan_Meier644.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield man used birth certificate for bank robbery demand note
