Kenosha---A slow-moving bank robbery that included a device that the would-be thief claimed was a bomb ended peacefully late Friday morning.
A local man believed to be in his 30's was taken into custody.
According to police:
Shortly after the Johnson Bank at 2729 18th St. opened for business Friday morning, a man presented a note to a teller demanding money and claiming to have a bomb tied to him. Bank employees immediately activated the alarm.
Instead of fleeing or reiterating his demand for cash, the man took a seat in the lobby area. And that's where he stayed throughout the ordeal.
The man handed the first arriving officers a second note, repeating his bomb claim. Bank employees fled and the officers pulled out, leaving the man alone still sitting in his chair. "He never attempted to flee," said Police Dept. Lt. Tom Hansche, adding that the man remained calm and never got excited.
Eventually a robot was sent in for communication and surveillance purposes. The robot's camera confirmed the presence of a bomb-like device.
A short while later, the man surrendered and the device was taken in for examination.
Hansche says it wasn't immediately clear whether the suspect was under the influence of something or had mental problems.
The shopping center where the bank is located was closed for nearly three hours Friday morning.
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