Worcester bank robbery suspect in standoff behind Denholm Building; ground covered with cash

Mike Elfland, Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Updated ·2 min read
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A man suspected of robbing the Santander Bank on Main Street is brought out of a low area where he was hiding, behind the Denholm Building, on Friday. Cash is seen on the ground.
A man suspected of robbing the Santander Bank on Main Street is brought out of a low area where he was hiding, behind the Denholm Building, on Friday. Cash is seen on the ground.

WORCESTER - With cash strewn on the ground, apparently from the holdup of Santander Bank minutes before, a team of city police officers surrounded a man who had taken refuge at the base of a smokestack behind the Denholm Building Friday afternoon.

After about 15 minutes, with officers demanding the man show his hands, repeatedly yelling, "It's over, Mike," the robbery suspect was taken into custody. When he emerged from behind the smokestack he was naked, his leg bloodied.

The robbery occurred about 4 p.m. at the Santander branch at 507 Main St., across from City Hall. An unarmed man wearing sweatpants demanded cash from bank employees, according to police radio transmissions. He bolted the bank.

Minutes later, police confronted the man behind the former department store, across Main Street from the bank.

Somehow the man ended up at the base of the brick smokestack, in an area about 15 feet below grade. Once officers were aware of his whereabouts, they surrounded the area. Using a ladder, several officers, one with a shield, lowered themselves to the base of the smokestack, on the opposite side of the suspect. A police dog was lowered to the base. Officers from above, one with a rifle, kept watch.

After several minutes of issuing verbal commands for the man to give up and "show his hands," a distraction device, delivering a loud noise, could be heard coming from the area. Minutes later, the man was in custody, no longer ignoring the officers' demands. An officer wrapped a discarded piece of clothing around the man's waist.

He was guided up the ladder to a waiting ambulance crew. He was taken for medical treatment, accompanied by officers. As he was taken away, bills of ones, tens and twenties remained on the pavement, later documented as evidence.

Officers above watch as others make their way to a man hiding behind a smokestack near the Denholm Building.
Officers above watch as others make their way to a man hiding behind a smokestack near the Denholm Building.

Authorities later identified the man as Christopher Grannis, 35, of King Street. He is charged with unarmed robbery and larceny over $1,200.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester robbery suspect in standoff behind Denholms; ground covered with cash