Alleged robber in break-in dies

9/1/2009

A man who was injured when he apparently was trying to break into a North Toledo apartment died Friday in the Arbors at Toledo nursing home - 24 days after he was admitted in critical condition to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center.

Residents of 629 Locust St. seriously hurt Gregory Banks, 46, as he and another man tried to force their way into an apartment Aug. 4, police said. Police said Mr. Banks, 46, of 828 Magnolia St. and a man known as "T" kicked on the door of Toyia Taylor's apartment and hit her on the head with a handgun when she opened the door. She began fighting with the men and alerted another person in the apartment.

The two suspects were eventually fought off by Ms. Taylor, the other man inside the apartment, and other residents of the building who came to their aid. The victims and neighbors subdued Mr. Banks, but the second man fled, Toledo police Deputy Chief Don Kenney said.

"The lady hit him with a can," Chief Kenney said.

"Then, the neighbors came over and they helped," the chief said. "Police got there and they found him laying on the ground and transported him to the hospital."

Mr. Banks was on the floor struggling to get away when officers arrived.

He had been charged with aggravated robbery after the incident that occurred about 6:15 a.m. that day.

A grand jury declined to return a felonious-assault charge against the people who beat up Mr. Banks, Chief Kenney said.

"We will return this to the prosecutors and they we will make a decision whether to present to the grand jury murder or similar charges," he said."