Police say men accosted family to pull off heist at credit union

12/18/2001

It sounds like a scene from a gangster movie.

Two masked men break down a door to a residence in the middle of the night, awaken a family, take it hostage, and force a family member to drive one of the suspects to a financial institution so he can rob it.

Local and federal officials said the scene was a reality for an Oregon family early yesterday.

“We are treating it as legitimate. We have no reason to believe otherwise. ... But it's not similar to traditional bank robberies we've been having,” said Carl Spicocchi, head of the Toledo FBI office.

The story unfolded between 1:30 and 2 a.m. when two men wearing ski masks and believed to be carrying handguns forced their way into the home of Kathy Scholl in the 7000 block of Navarre Avenue.

One of the men detained her husband and adult daughter at the house while the other man forced her to drive him about 10 miles to the Jeep Federal Credit Union, 3437 North Detroit Ave., in her husband's pickup, authorities said.

The victim told Toledo police the man ordered her to let him in the building, where she is a manager, and into the safes. He put an undisclosed amount of money into a bag and left her in the parking lot, standing in her pajamas, authorities said.

Police recovered the truck near the credit union.

Mr. Spicocchi said the suspect at the residence fled on foot after the incident. There is no indication his accomplice returned to the house.

None of the family members were hurt.

Mrs. Scholl declined comment yesterday.

“It's something you think will only happen to someone else. It was pretty scary and pretty upsetting for the family,” said Mrs. Scholl's son-in-law, who declined to be identified.

The men were described as black, standing 5 feet, 9 inches to 5 feet, 10 inches tall, with medium builds, and wearing black clothing.