Officer frightens off gunmen at credit union

12/7/2004

Would-be robbers with handguns thought twice before holding up a South Toledo credit union yesterday: The masked males fled after an off-duty Toledo police officer pointed his weapon at them.

The suspects - dressed in dark clothing, ski masks, and gloves - tried to enter the University of Toledo-Medical College of Ohio Federal Credit Union, 5248 Hill Ave., about 9:30 a.m. They were unsuccessful because the inner doors were locked.

When they saw Officer Hany Youssef, they pointed their handguns at him, but they took off when he drew his weapon, police said.

The suspects left in a white 1984 Buick Riviera, which was recovered 90 minutes later in the 5000 block of Kitchener Drive in South Toledo. The car had been reported stolen Nov. 25 from the 5800 block of Yermo Drive in North Toledo.

Police recalled a similar attempt to rob the credit union. In that incident, an auto that had been stolen in the area of Yermo and Alexis Road was used and was recovered in the same area as the vehicle used in yesterday's holdup.