Experienced, armed trio robs Toledo bank branch

Two armed men wearing masks robbed the National City Bank branch on Manhattan Blvd. about 10:45 a.m. A third suspect is believed to have been outside as a lookout, authorities said.

David Dracz felt someone nudge him from behind yesterday while standing at the teller counter of the National City Bank branch at 625 Manhattan Blvd.

The West Toledo resident thought it was a joke until he caught a glimpse of a man wearing dark clothing and a scarf across his face.

Mr. Dracz, 58, looked to his right and saw another man behind the counter with what he described as an AK-47 assault rifle, though police could not confirm what type of weapon was used.

He pulled his wife, JoAnn, 56, down to the floor where they lay down and pressed their faces to the surface.

[We] were waiting for a gun to go off or something, he said.

Two armed men wearing masks robbed the bank branch about 10:45 a.m. of an undisclosed amount of money, authorities said.

The robbers had walkie-talkies and authorities believe there was a third suspect outside of the bank who acted as a lookout.

The suspects appeared very organized and experienced, Toledo police Sgt. Tim Noble said.

The men ordered everyone inside the bank to lie on the floor as they approached a teller and demanded money.

Mrs. Dracz said the calmness in the robbers voices was spooky, almost like they had done something like that before.

It was nothing that you would picture, she said. They were just too calm. They knew what they were doing.

One bank employee received minor injuries when struck in the back of the head by one of the suspects, authorities said.

Investigators were unsure if the suspect hit the employee with his hand or a gun, pending the review of the bank s surveillance video.

As the last robber was leaving the bank, he turned and told everyone inside to Have a nice day, Mr. Dracz recalled.

Mrs. Dracz considered herself and the others inside the bank to be lucky.

You could do everything they tell you to do and still get killed, she said. Thank God we re here.

The suspects fled in an older-model silver-colored Jeep Cherokee, which later was found on East Lake Street near Worley Place in North Toledo.

The vehicle had been reported stolen from Livonia, Mich., which is about 60 miles north of Toledo.

Sergeant Noble said police believe the suspects got into another vehicle, but are unsure if they are still in the Toledo area. They are considered to be armed and dangerous, he said.

One suspect was described as black, of medium build, between 5 feet, 6 inches and 5 feet, 10 inches tall.

He wore dark clothing, a dark stocking cap, and was carrying a semi-automatic handgun, police said.

The second suspect was described as black, about 6 feet tall, and weighing about 200 pounds.

He wore a gray, long-sleeved shirt, a white handkerchief covering his face, a dark stocking cap, and was carrying an assault weapon.

Police are still searching for suspects involved in two unrelated bank robberies that occurred Monday one in Point Place and another in Temperance.

A man claiming to have a weapon and a bomb robbed the KeyBank branch at 5037 Suder Ave. about 1:15 p.m. after handing a teller a note demanding money.

Witnesses said they didn t see a weapon or a bomb. The robber fled in an older-model maroon Cadillac, police said.

Police said the suspect is in his late 20s or early 30s, 5 feet, 9 inches tall, with a thin build. He had a goatee and wore a tan-and-white fishing hat, a blue striped shirt, jeans, and sunglasses.

A little more than three hours later, a masked man armed with a gun ran into Citizens Bank, 7548 Lewis Ave., in Temperance and demanded money from a teller, Monroe County sheriff s Detective Tom Redmond said.

The man s face was covered with a plastic paintball mask and goggles, Detective Redmond said.

He was covered from head to toe, he said. We re going to have a difficult time locating this individual.

The suspect was described as 5 feet, 9 inches tall, wearing a black, hooded sweatshirt. His race and age were unknown, the sheriff s office said.

Contact Laren Weber at: lweber@theblade.com or 419-724-6050.