Man charged with robbing Toledo bank

1/19/2001

A central Toledo man was charged with bank robbery yesterday after he allegedly took an undisclosed amount of money from a Fifth Third Bank branch and quickly was caught by Toledo police responding to the incident.

Sidney L. Byrd, 35, of 915 Sherman St., is being held in the Lucas County jail without bond after making an initial appearance before U.S. District Court Magistrate Vernelis K. Armstrong. Bond will be set during a detention hearing, which will be held after Mr. Byrd undergoes a psychiatric evaluation. A preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 25.

According to a police report, a man walked into the bank, 1910 Collingwood Blvd., about 9:25 a.m. and sat down in the area of the manager's desk. He told the manager, “I'm the man with the gun and I want money,” the report said. He repeated his request two more times and said he needed $1,000. The manager went behind the teller's area, activated an alarm, and signaled a security guard. The manager gave the man money, and he fled. Officers stopped the man as he was walking on Collingwood at Monroe Street.

If convicted, Mr. Byrd could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison and be fined up to $250,000, according to the FBI.